Selenium and its health benefits! Does it have a weight-reducing role?

A person's weight is determined by several factors. Dietary, lifestyle, health and disease factors influence it. People aim for normal weight fir age and height. But many a times, there is some imbalance leading to malnutrition. This could be either less weight or more weight. 

Most females are concerned about excess weight gain and want to gave weight-loss. They resort to a number of therapies for it with variable results. 

Weight loss measures (Source: Nootriment) 

Excessive weight and therapies

Every country has a set of tables and graphs which show the normal weight for a child or adult as per his or her weight and height. Body mass index is also calculated based on the height and weight of a person. It it is above 25, it is overweight and above 30 is obesity. Below 18 of BMI is undernourished. 

In order to regain normal weight, one should shed off the sedentary lifestyle. Exercising daily and cutting down carbs and fats in meals helps. 

There are some over-the-counter medicines, and herbs available for weight loss. But these are of doubtful value. Selenium has been associated with helping weight loss. 

Selenium and weight loss 

Selenium is a micronutrient and a mineral found in soil and water and it has a number of functions in the body. It is needed for thyroid hormone manufacture and can thus regulate body metabolism. Hence it can assist weight loss. But the good point is that only a small amount of it (55mcg) is required and the diet easily supplies it.  Hence it's deficiency is rare. The mineral enters the plants and thus reaches humans when they consume these plants. Selenium-rich foods are Brazil nut (just 2 per day gives the daily needs), brown rice, lentils, whole wheat bread, oatmeal, yellowfin tuna, egg, halibut, chicken breast,  and low fat cottage cheese. But ultra-processed foods are deficient in it. 

But do selenium supplements accelerate weight loss? 

Weight loss and selenium (Source: Nootriment) 

Read here: Pineapple: The wonder tropical fruit and its numerous health benefits! 

Selenium, thyroid hormone and supplements 

A study on 3700 people revealed that people who took less selenium in diet had a higher BMI. People who have mild thyroid deficiency or autoimmune thyroid disease tend to gain weight. Hence in such cases, selenium supplements might be useful to enhance thyroid hormone production and hence body metabolism and weight loss. 

They may also help people with normal thyroid function. 

A study was performed for 12 weeks on 37 adults who were overweight. They were given calorie-restricted diet and half of them also received a daily dose of 240 mcg of selenium. The latter group lost more weight, more fat, and had lower levels of leptin in them. An extra intake of 1 mcg /kg/day of selenium helped lose 3-6% of body fat. 

Supplements per se of selenium are not required. Just ensuring a daily supply of selenium in foods would help. If taking supplements, avoid more than 400 mcg per day. If selenium is taken in high doses fir long, it can lead to heart and kidney damage. There will be hair loss and nail loss. Nails become brittle. Breath gets a garlic odor and there is a metallic taste in the mouth. There may be diarrhea and easy fatiguability with joint pain.