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Journal ArticleReviewBiological trace element research·Graded and published ·Last edited

Low Selenium May Be a Risk Factor for Age-Related Muscle Loss, Review Finds

Graded Preliminarynarrative review mixing observational human data with animal experiments, without any randomized trial of selenium supplements for muscle in people.

Design
Review
Participants
N/A
Duration
Funding
Key Insight

This review suggests keeping selenium levels adequate may matter for muscle health in later life.


Older people with low selenium levels tend to have weaker grip and less muscle, and the lower the level, the worse it looks. This comes from a review pulling together population studies, one clinical study and animal experiments. For anyone worried about staying strong with age, it points to a trace mineral found in Brazil nuts, fish and eggs. Only animals have been given selenium in experiments so far, so no human trial shows supplements protect muscle.

Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.