Die Klinik des Selenmangels im Alter*

Journal/Book: Erfahrungsheilkunde. 1989; 38/9: 544-548.

Abstract: The trace element selenium is of increasing importance in biological, biochemical, nutritionally physiological, and medical research. Selenium is an important part of our nutrition.Selenium deficiency can lead to diseases. Selenium has a protective effect against environmental injuries, especially by heavy metals. It has a cancer-prophylactic effect, leads to a strengthening of immunocompetence, and there are many indications that selenium deficiency accelerates the aging process.Selenium can be found an the earth's surface, but the soil has been considerably depleted of selenium due to intensive cultivation, chemical fertilizers, wrong eating habits, and the increasing ecological damage; this leads to the disappearance of selenium in the soil. Selenium influences many metabolic processes and has special importance as an antioxidant. As the essential component of the enzyme gluthathione peroxidase, it prevents the excessive accumulation of fatty acid hydroperoxides and, thus, the destruction of cell membranes and tissue. In principle, essential trace elements are as important for the course of life as vitamins; they are even called the "new inorganic vitamins" today. There are very great hopes for the future concerning the improvement of life expectancy and life quality in old age by recognizing and treating selenium deficiencies.The following diseases are associated with selenium deficiency: coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, cardiac infarction, rheumatic diseases, hepatic cirrhosis, ophthalmic diseases in old age, dermatoses, pancreatic diseases, immunodeficiency syndromes, and neoplasias. There is a real chanceof an adjuvanttherapy with selenium also in case of some chronic, neurological diseases like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, or multi-infarction syndrome.

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