Selenium – Serum Test
Selenium – Serum Test
Selenium is a trace mineral essential for many processes in the body. Selenium serum test is used to detect the levels of the element selenium in our serum. This test is useful for determining if there is selenium deficiency or selenium excess in the serum, which is the fluid part of the blood, without the blood cells. Selenium deficiency can affect the digestive tract, cause neurological problems and bring about muscle pain and weakness. Selenium is also important for the heart muscle to function properly. When selenium is in excess, it can be toxic to the body, causing breathing difficulties, heart issues and kidney problems.
What is the Selenium-Serum Test Used For?
Selenium Serum test can be used to detect selenium levels in the serum and therefore diagnose health conditions due to selenium deficiency or selenium toxicity, such as
Cardiomyopathy
Kashin-Beck disease
Keshan Disease
Addison’s Disease
Hypothyroidism
Symptoms of Selenium Deficiency and Toxicity
This test is recommended for people who are at the risk for malnutrition. This can cause selenium deficiency. Some of the symptoms of selenium deficiency are
Muscle Weakness
Dizziness
Nausea
Though rare, people living in areas with excess selenium content in soil and water or supplementing their diet with excess selenium supplements may suffer from selenium toxicity. Some of the symptoms of selenium toxicity are
Diarrhoea
Fatigue
Joint pain
Nail discoloration or brittleness
Preparation for Test
Before the test, let your general physician know of any medication, supplements or treatments that you are taking. If there were any imaging studies performed, please inform the physician about this too, especially if these tests were done with contrast media containing elements such as gadolinium, iodine, or barium. These may interfere with the test results. Your physician may ask you to wait for 96 hours before getting tested for selenium serum levels, if you had such imaging studies done.
Interpretation of Test Results
The normal serum levels of selenium in adults above 18 is 110 to 165 micrograms per litre.
If the selenium concentration is lower than 110 micrograms per litre then it may indicate selenium deficiency, but this may be better confirmed by other tests advised by the physician. Selenium levels lower than 40 micrograms per litre is may be associated with dysfunction of an enzyme called gluthathione peroxidase, an important antioxidant in our body. Physicians may give selenium supplements to increase this level to at least 70 micrograms per litre, in your blood serum.
Selenium toxicity is rare. Any value above the normal reference window of selenium serum concentration (110-165 micrograms per litre) should be interpreted by the doctor.
FAQs
How is the sample collected for the Selenium Serum test?
A blood sample is collected from a vein in your arm.
What is the turnaround time (TAT) for Selenium serum test?
The tests results should come within 3-5 days after the sample is taken. This time would depend on the diagnostic laboratory that has taken the sample for analysis.
What should we do if we have selenium deficiency?
In case selenium deficiency was found, the doctor may advise selenium supplements or they may advise you to eat foods rich in selenium like, seafood, meat and dairy products.
What is the recommended amount of selenium per day for adults?
Please ensure to have at least 55 micrograms of selenium per day as an adult. People of different age groups have different dietary requirements of selenium.
What is the upper limit for the dietary intake of selenium for adults?
Try not to exceed 400 micrograms of selenium per day as an adult. Consuming high amounts of selenium may lead to selenium toxicity over time.
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