It is a fact that an increasing number of young couples have difficulty with conceiving, which is partly due to problems that relate to male sperm quality. It is therefore of interest to science to investigate different factors that play a role in contributing to normal sperm cell production, and both selenium and zinc fit into this category.

Lower levels of micronutrients
Researchers from the Medical University of Silesia in Zabrze, Poland, and colleagues from the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Foggia in Italy recently published a study, in which they had found that that levels of certain micronutrients, namely zinc and selenium, were significantly lower in men with impaired sperm quality. Also, levels of calcium and magnesium turned out to be lower among these men.

Divided in four different groups
The scientists divided the study participants into four groups. One group consisted of healthy men with normal sperm parameters, while the remaining participants were divided into the following groups:
Men with oligospermia (lower sperm cell count than normal), asthenozoospermia (impaired sperm motility), and oligoasthenozoospermia (low sperm count combined with impaired sperm motility).

Substantial differences
By comparing the different groups, the scientists could identify a number of substantial differences, of which reduced levels of selenium and zinc were among the most significant. They also observed that the gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) activity in semen was significantly higher in men in the three subfertility groups, while alanine aminotransferase activity (ALT) in the same groups was reduced. Both GGT and ALT are enzymes that are involved in, among other things, male fertility.

Scottish study of selenium and sperm
It has been known for decades that selenium in particular has an essential role in contributing to normal male sperm cell synthesis. In 1998, a Scottish scientist named Alan MacPherson published a study in the British Journal of Urology, which looked at how selenium supplementation affected the sperm cell motility and density of men attending a subfertility clinic. This study had positive outcome and has been cited frequently in articles about infertility in general. The Scottish has been followed up by similar studies ever since, and they point in the same direction.

Protects against oxidative stress
Selenium supports somewhere 25 and 30 different selenoproteins, which are selenium-dependent enzymes that are needed for a number of reasons. It has been discovered that selenoproteins protect cells against oxidative damage, which can damage the cells’ DNA and cause abnormal sperm cells that are unable to navigate properly. Male infertility is not just a matter of sperm cell count. The number of malformed sperm cells with impaired motility is every bit as important.

Sources:

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2020 Jan 2. doi: 10.1007/s12011-019-02022-9. [Epub ahead of print]

Br J Urol. 1998 Jul;82(1):76-80.

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Sperm cell quality among young men has never been worse, and
according to a new study from Harvard University based on Danish men
with an average age of 19 years, diets are to blame. Unhealthy food
choices can harm male fertility irreversibly by the time men reach 18,
meaning that they will never be able to father a child of their own.

Damages sperm cells
Apparently, junk food like pizzas, chips, and snacks are throwing a
wrench in the body’s sperm cell production, causing sperm counts to
decline and exposing sperm cells to oxidative stress – a type of molecular
damage that leads to malformed sperm cells that lack the ability to swim
and navigate like normal, healthy sperm cells.

Swiss men hold the record
A recent Swiss study shocked by showing that 17% of young, Swiss army
draftees had fewer than 15 million sperm cells in each ml. of ejaculate,
where the European average is 41-67 million, and in 25% of the Swiss
men less than 40% of the sperm cells were motile (able to swim).

Normal sperm cells require selenium
Selenium is a trace element that has a vital function in fertility, as it
contributes to the synthesis of normal sperm cells. Selenium also protects
cells (sperm cells included) against oxidative damage. It is therefore
essential to make sure that you get enough of this micronutrient.

Selenium in tablet form
In Europe, even an average diet may not be able to provide sufficient
amounts of selenium, according to food analyses. Selenium is found in
meat, grains, seafood, and Brazil nuts, but one can also take it in
supplement form.

Documented in studies
A study that was conducted many years ago and published in British
Journal of Urology demonstrated that selenium given to a group of men
with fertility problems improved their sperm quality. The preparation was
used was BioActive Selenium + Zinc from Pharma Nord.

BioActive Selenium + Zinc contains the patented organic selenium yeast,
SelenoPrecise, which has very good bioavailability. Studies document that
88.7% of the selenium content in SelenoPrecise is absorbed. BioActive
Selenium + Zinc also contains zinc (which contributes to normal sperm
cell production) and vitamins A, B6, C, and E.

 You can read more about BioActive Selenium + Zinc and SelenoPrecise
here.

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The trace element selenium, which is essential for human health, was among the topics up for discussion at the 14th International Medical Postgraduate Conference (New Frontiers in the Research of Ph.D. Students) in Prague. A new Portuguese study that looks at selenium’s role in a special thyroid disorder called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis underpins that selenium is essential for normal functioning of the thyroid gland.

Vital for a number of functions

Normal thyroid function is very important for a number of reasons such as the ability to maintain

• stable weight
• normal hair and nails
• normal immune functions
• normal muscle strength
• normal heart rate

European soil is low in selenium

Good food sources of selenium are fish, whole-grain, nuts, and organ meat. However, European agricultural soil contains very little selenium compared with the soil in other parts of the world, for instance in large parts of the United States. An average European only gets around 40-50 micrograms of selenium daily from the diet, whereas a North-American can easily get twice that much or more.

Supports important selenoproteins

Selenium researchers have tried to make an estimate of how much selenium a person needs for optimal health. Studies show that with an intake of around 100 micrograms per day, it is possible to saturate one of the body’s most essential selenoproteins – selenoprotein P (or SelP). We have around 25 or more selenoproteins, which are responsible for controlling a number of vital functions. One is to make sure that the thyroid gland functions normally.

Selenium yeast with good absorption

A good way of ensuring adequate levels of selenium in the blood is to take a supplement. BioActive Selenium & Zinc is a unique, patented selenium yeast with a variety of over 20 different organic selenium species, which represents the same variety that you get from eating a balanced diet. 88.7% of the selenium content in BioActive Selenium & Zinc is absorbed in the body, according to scientific studies of the preparation. Because of its excellent bioavailability, this preparation was what the scientists behind the groundbreaking KiSel-10 study used in their trial to demonstrate that daily selenium supplements has a very positive impact on quality of life and health. 443 men and women partook in the study that was published in the International Journal of Cardiology in 2013.

Read more about SelenoPrecise

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Does your hair split at the ends? Do your nails break easily? These are common problems, and we spend a fortune on expensive beauty products, hoping that it will make a difference. A much better strategy is to take a nutritional supplement like BioActive Selenium + Zinc, which provides the body with supportive nutrients.

Strong hair and nails

Selenium, for instance, contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and nails. It is not normal for hair to split and nails to break. In fact, it may be a clear sign that you need more selenium so your body can maintain normal, healthy hair and nails. Not only does it contribute to your appearance, it is generally a sign of good health when your hair and nails are in good condition.

Nice-looking skin

Zinc, a trace mineral like selenium, is good for your skin and supports normal skin functions. You definitely need this nutrient if you want beautiful looking skin. Similarly, vitamin C, which is also found in BioActive Selenium + Zinc, helps the body produce collagen. We need collagen for normal, healthy skin, ligaments, tendons, joints, bones and teeth. Collagen is what gives skin strength and elasticity.

Your beauty depends on nutrition

Your skin, hair, and nails depend on a broad range of vitamins and minerals. A person who eats a healthy and balanced diet is far more likely to have beautiful skin, hair, and nails, compared with someone who lives on junk-food and is lacking lots of important nutrients. Taking a supplement like BioActive Selenium + Zinc is a simple and practical way of getting adequate amounts of key nutrients that play a particularly important role in your appearance.

Are we getting too little selenium?

Health authorities across Europe recommend that people get around 50-70 micrograms of selenium each day from the diet. In some countries, however, the average selenium intake is below that level. Technically, this means that people are not getting the amount of selenium that is needed to support the many selenium-dependent enzymes (also called selenoproteins) that are necessary for normal immune function, normal hair and nails, normal fertility, among other things.

Important nutrients for your immune system

Your immune system protects you against virus and bacteria that can lead to colds and influenza. You can support your immune system by eating a healthy diet, exercising moderately, and making sure to get enough sleep. Researchers have even found that selenium and zinc help to maintain a well-functioning immune system, which is useful for staying in good health.

Read more about SelenoPrecise

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Even those Irish people, who are very conscious of health and do what they can to balance their diets to get all the necessary vitamins and minerals, could be hard-pressed to get enough of one particular micronutrient – and that is selenium. According to a government report issued by the Scientific Committee of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, the average selenium intake in most European countries, Ireland included, is comparatively low and may be insufficient for much of the population.

Needed for normal thyroid function

The scientific focus on selenium has increased substantially over the past decades. Studies have pointed to selenium’s role in fueling 25-30 selenoproteins that need this particular micronutrient to function properly. Selenoproteins regulate a number of biological functions such as the immune system, reproduction, and the thyroid gland. Getting too little selenium could potentially throw a wrench in these processes, which is why it is so important to make sure to get enough of this mineral.

Large parts of the food chain affected

We humans get our selenium from many different sources. It is found in agricultural crops, nuts (especially Brazil nuts) and we also get it from animal meat and seafood. Because of the relatively low selenium content in the Irish soil, selenium levels in agricultural crops and in the meat and dairy from grazing animals (cows and sheep) are also low. Large parts of the food chain are therefore affected.

The Finnish example

Low selenium levels in the agricultural soil may be a result of many different factors. There are geographical variations in the natural selenium content, but there are also things that leach minerals from the soil, for instance intensive farming. In Finland, where the selenium content in the soil was critically low at one point, the government introduced mandatory selenium-enrichment of agricultural fertilizers as a way of solving the problem. It worked. Before long, the selenium status of the Finns had improved markedly.

Thyroid disorders

One of the really interesting roles of selenium is its importance for the thyroid gland. This gland that controls the body’s metabolic rate and is vital for virtually all body functions needs selenium to function normally. The thyroid gland produces thyroid hormones, which the body can only activate with help from selenium. Researchers are currently investigating selenium’s role in certain thyroid disorders and hope to come up with some answers in the years to come.

Health and well-being

Interestingly, cattle farmers all over the world know how important this nutrient is for the health and well-being of their animals. For the very same reason, they feed extra selenium to their livestock to make sure that they are in good health. Selenium is equally important for the health and well-being of humans, but for some reason, medical science has not paid much attention to this. With the substantial amount of scientific studies being published, however, things are about to change.

A supplement may be a good idea

So if the diet does not contain all that much selenium, how does one make sure to get enough? A balanced diet is always advisable, but a selenium supplement is a way of dealing with the problem. Pharma Nord has developed a unique selenium yeast called SelenoPrecise, which has excellent bioavailability. Studies document that 88.7% of the selenium content in this selenium yeast is absorbed in the blood.

Read more about SelenoPrecise

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According to science, male sperm quality is declining rapidly. A review of 185 studies from all over the world demonstrates a dramatic decline in sperm quality, a problem that started to escalate in the 1980s. The review is published in the science journal Human Reproduction Update. Stefan Arver, Chief Physician and head of Anova at the Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge, Sweden, claims that our knowledge about the underlying causes is not that good and calls for more research.

“We still have not seen any major impact on male fertility, but the decline that has taken place since the 1970s may have wide impact in the future, and we currently don’t know much about this,” Stefan Arver is quoted as saying in an article in Dagens Nyheter (June 11, 2018).

Poor sperm quality is a big problem

If you study sperm samples taken from men today, they reveal that the number of sperm cells is only half of what it was 40 years ago. Hagai Levine, an Israeli scientist who has mapped out the dramatic reduction, says that if this trend continues, it could result in human extinction. He points out that the reduced number of sperm cells is not news in itself. It is the extent of the reduction that worries him.

A micronutrient that supports sperm cell production

What is interesting when discussing male fertility is that selenium, an essential micronutrient in our diets, is essential for normal sperm cell production. Selenium is a trace element that crops absorb from the soil, but the agricultural soil in large parts of Europe, Ireland included, contains very little of this micronutrient. Sweden is also one of the low-selenium areas, which means that crops cultivated on Swedish farmland contain very little selenium.

A good way to get enough selenium

One way to ensure an adequate selenium intake is to take a supplement with organic selenium yeast, which the body can easily absorb and utilize. Pharma Nord’s patented organic selenium yeast, SelenoPrecise, can document that 88.7% of its selenium content is absorbed in the body, and 74% of the absorbed selenium is retained in the body. SelenoPrecise is unique in that it provides the same broad spectrum of selenium species that you get from eating a balanced diet with many different selenium sources. Each tablet contains 100 micrograms of bioavailable organic selenium yeast.

Read more about SelenoPrecise

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If you want to know if your thyroid gland is working properly, all you need to do is look at your fingernails.

Vital for your beauty
The thyroid gland is responsible for controlling the metabolism inside all cells that enables them to carry out their vital functions. When we are talking hair and nails, your outer beauty depends on good functioning at a cellular level. However, other cells such as muscle cells, brain cells, immune cells, and even sperm cells also depend on being able to generate energy at a proper rate.

Why you need selenium
Did you know that selenium is one of the most important micronutrients in terms of normal thyroid function? You need an adequate amount of selenium to make sure that your thyroid gland can keep the right metabolic rate, which is the speed at which your cells convert food (fat, protein, and carbohydrate) into energy.

Helps you maintain your weight
Yes, you have already guessed it. Your metabolic rate is also important for your ability to maintain normal body weight. If your body cannot metabolize the calories you eat fast enough, your weight may increase.

A supplement may be useful
Unfortunately, it is challenging to get enough selenium from the diet in our part of the world. The agricultural soil in large parts of Europe contains very little selenium, but there are ways of getting around that problem. An increasing number of people opt for selenium supplements, which is a convenient way of boosting your intake of the nutrient. This is especially important for those who do not eat enough fish, whole-grain or nuts, and also for those people who have gluten intolerance.

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A Swiss team of scientists warn that changes in the climate and soil may lead to a decrease in the soil content of selenium, a micronutrient that is essential to human health. This is bound to affect Europe in particular, they say. Read about the report here and find out how organic selenium yeast can help you stay healthy…..

An estimated one billion humans worldwide get too little selenium, a micronutrient that is essential to human health. Things may get worse, Swiss scientists warn, basing their assumption on climate-change models that reveal how shifts in climate and soil could reduce selenium levels in crops in the future.

Analyzed soil samples
The team of scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology conducted a thorough analysis of soil samples taken from 1994 to 2016, looking at how the selenium content in the top soil changed over time. By holding selenium levels in soil up against 26 environmental variables, the scientists were able to see how the selenium content would change until the end of the century.

Europe most affected
They assessed that selenium deficiency could be on the increase as climate changes lowered the selenium content in soil. About 66% of croplands would lose selenium, they report, guessing that agricultural areas of Europe and parts of the United States would be affected the most. This would add to the current situation where one in seven humans worldwide does not get enough of this vital nutrient.

Adding selenium to fertilizers
The big question is how we ensure that people around the world get enough selenium to maintain proper health. In Finland, the government introduced mandatory selenium-enrichment of fertilizers in the mid-80s as a way of increasing the selenium content in crops. That strategy actually improved the Finnish population’s selenium status. There are disadvantages of this method, however. Not all of the selenium that is added to the fertilizers gets absorbed by the plants, and since selenium is scarce – science believes the global selenium reserves will be exhausted in less than 40 years from now – we may be better off with a strategy that makes better use of this limited resource.

Supplements may be better
A better approach could be to ingest tablets with organic selenium yeast, which is the selenium source that the body absorbs and utilizes the best. Pharma Nord’s organic selenium yeast (SelenoPrecise) can document that 88.7% of its selenium content gets absorbed, and 74% is retained in the body, which shows that it has good bioavailability.

Helped elderly stay healthy
A few years ago, Swedish scientists came out with a study showing that elderly people who took SelenoPrecise daily together with a supplement called Bio-Quinone Q10 were able to maintain their health more easily than those who were given a matching placebo. The study (KiSel-10) got

published in the International Journal of Cardiology in 2013.

The selenium-dependent enzymes
Humans have 25-30 different selenium-dependent enzymes called selenoproteins, which cannot function properly without selenium. These selenoproteins are responsible for body functions such as:

• Immune defense
• Thyroid function (metabolism)
• Protection of cells
• Reproduction (fertility)

We need a certain amount of selenium every day to saturate these selenoproteins and keep them in normal working order. There is an ongoing discussion about the exact amount needed to stay healthy, but most experts agree that it is somewhere around 70-100 micrograms per day, possibly slightly more.

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Fish it good for you. It contains vitamin D, iodine, and lots of other nutrients that are required for maintaining good health. Unfortunately, fish is also contaminated with heavy metals such as mercury, a potentially harmful neurotoxin that can cause damage to the brain. Luckily, one of the healthy nutrients in fish is a trace element called selenium, which has a feature that comes in very handy.

Handcuffing mercury
According to Dr. Nicholas Ralston, PhD, a biochemist and biologist working at the University of North Dakota, USA, selenium has a special binding affinity with mercury, which enables it to attach to mercury in a one-to-one ratio, so that the mercury molecules that would otherwise cause harm are virtually “hand-cuffed” and unable to react with the human organism.

Lecturing at a large, international selenium conference in Stockholm last month, Dr. Ralston said: “Mercury targets selenium and destroys important selenoproteins. It is therefore important to have adequate amounts of selenium in the body.”

Outweighs the harm
“In fact,” he specified, “the selenium content in our diet is eight times more important than the amount of mercury,” so getting enough selenium has high priority.
He also pointed out that the natural selenium content in many fish, including most types of tuna, is adequately high to outweigh the potential threat from the mercury content and claimed that there is generally no need to worry about consuming fish because of their mercury load. Still, one needs to realize that the selenium, which the binding process sequesters, is no longer available for useful purposes such as supporting the selenium-dependent selenoproteins in the body.

How much do we need?
Scientists generally agree that an adult human needs around 100-125 micrograms of selenium daily in order to saturate the many selenoproteins that need this nutrient to function properly. Selenoproteins are what ensure normal functioning of the immune system, thyroid gland, reproductive system, and protect cells against oxidative stress.

Eating a balanced diet with good selenium sources like fish, nuts, whole-grain, and meat is advisable. One may include a supplement like SelenoPrecise, which is an organic selenium yeast that can document that 88.7% of its selenium content gets absorbed by the body.

Click here to read more about Selenium

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