Selenium linked to diabetes
1st March 2012
By Clare Pain
Patients who take too much selenium may be increasing their risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a paper in the Lancet.
The review of around 500 studies concludes that selenium’s health effects are complex, but appear to follow a U-shaped curve: supplementation might benefit those who are deficient, but increase the risk of mortality in those whose levels are already high.
Blood levels of 130-150 μg/L appear to be optimal, the review found. Patients