<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

The role of selenium deficiency in celiac disease and autoimmune thyroid
disease seems to be overlooked in recent research on celiac disease.  On
this Celiac List, selenium as a deficiency (not as a toxin or as an
ingredient in multivitamins) has only received a few brief mentions in
passing with only two medical references.  In researching antioxidants, I
came upon the following NIH fact sheet on selenium.  I quickly realized
that CD patients would very likely be deficient in selenium, and, hence,
likely to suffer the health impairments of selenium deficiency.  I have
included here a number of research abstracts to help shed light on this
very intriguing subject.  Clearly there is a need to consider selenium
supplementation and a need for further research on the relationship of
selenium deficiency and CD.

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Facts About Dietary Supplements: Selenium

Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, Office of Dietary Supplements,
National Institutes of Health

HTML version (without references):
http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/supplements/selen.html

PDF version (with references):
http://www.cc.nih.gov/ccc/supplements/selen.pdf

HTML references only:
http://www.1uphealth.com/alternative-medicine/selenium-9.html

"Selenium deficiency also may affect thyroid function because selenium is
essential for the synthesis of active thyroid hormone (4). Researchers also
believe selenium deficiency may worsen the effects of iodine deficiency on
thyroid function, and that adequate selenium nutritional status may help
protect against some of the neurologic effects of iodine deficiency (5).

Selenium deficiency has been seen in people who rely on total parenteral
nutrition (TPN) as their sole source of nutrition (13, 14). TPN is a method
of feeding nutrients through an intravenous (IV) line to people whose
digestive systems do not function. Forms of nutrients that do not require
digestion are dissolved in liquid and infused through the IV line. It is
important for TPN solutions to provide selenium in order to prevent a
deficiency (15). Physicians can monitor the selenium status of individuals
receiving TPN to make sure they are receiving adequate amounts.

Severe gastrointestinal disorders may decrease the absorption of selenium,
resulting in selenium depletion or deficiency (16). Gastrointestinal
problems that impair selenium absorption usually affect absorption of other
nutrients as well, and require routine monitoring of nutritional status so
that physicians can recommend appropriate treatment (16)."

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(Continued in Part 1)

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