Posted on 02/07/2022 7:37:02 PM PST by ConservativeMind
Selenium—a mineral found in many foods—could reverse the cognitive impact of stroke and boost learning and memory in aging brains, according to University of Queensland research.
Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) lead researcher Dr. Tara Walker said studies on the impact of exercise on the aging brain found levels of a protein key to transporting selenium in the blood were elevated by physical activity.
"We've known for the last 20 years that exercise can create new neurons in the brain, but we didn't really understand how," Dr. Walker said.
The research team investigated whether dietary selenium supplements could replicate the effects of exercise.
"Our models showed that selenium supplementation could increase neuron generation and improve cognition in elderly mice," Dr. Walker said.
"The levels of new neuron generation decrease rapidly in aged mice, as they do in humans.
"When selenium supplements were given to the mice, the production of neurons increased, reversing the cognitive deficits observed in aging."
Selenium is an essential trace mineral absorbed from soil and water and is found in foods such as grains, meat and nuts, with the highest levels found in Brazil nuts.
The scientists also tested whether selenium would have an impact on the cognitive decline sometimes experienced following stroke, which can affect people's memory and ability to learn.
"Young mice are really good at the learning and memory tasks, but after a stroke, they could no longer perform these tasks," Dr. Walker said.
"We found that learning and memory deficits of stroke affected mice returned to normal when they were given selenium supplements."
Dr. Walker said the results opened a new therapeutic avenue to boost cognitive function in people who were unable to exercise due to poor health or old age.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Most people are deficient in selenium.
Especially in the midwest around the Great Lakes. Just not that much in the soils in this area. Supplementation is imporrant, selenium is a very important mineral.
the stinky mineral- just started taking it 2 weeks ago-
[[So how exactly do “young mice” suffer a stroke?]]
Heavy smokers
I’ve read somewhere (Mercola?) that one nut a day will do it for your selenium requirement. I keep them in the fridge since that means a bag lasts a long time.
I take it every day.
200 mcg
The first one I got would just stink when I’d open the bottle and also burp it up. I just bought a brand that doesn’t do either.
Via an OTC supplement? If so, would you mind sharing what you take?
thanks, the one i got stinks- will have to look into it further-
Most Brazil nuts in America’s come from Bolivia. Bolivian Brazil nuts are lower in selenium, but also lower con radium and barium, according to this study: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223715605_Concentrations_of_selenium_barium_and_radium_in_Brazil_nuts
Don’t forget to read later
Heh, maybe there’s more to seniors eating all those prunes than just the digestive benefits.
Are Bronson Vitamins ‘Standardized Formula’s’???
Brazil nuts contain very high amounts of selenium (68–91 mcg per nut) and can cause you to go over the upper limit if you eat too many. Getting too much selenium over time can cause the following: Garlic breath. Nausea
Thank you for sharing that critical information. Very few people seem to be aware there are limits to what should be consumed with beneficial supplements. Zinc can poison you above 50 mg, vitamin D has no recognized benefits beyond 4,000 icu and so on, vitamin A becomes toxic on overdose.
I was a vet show called The Incredible Dr. Pol and he often gives cows selenium when they have weak muscles.
You're welcome
Years ago I read about a guy who drank so much carrot juice that he got cirrhosis of the liver and died.
I've been posting this about Vitamin D for years now:
20 Foods Rich in Selenium
Selenium https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/selenium-healthprofessional/
Age | Male | Female | Pregnancy | Lactation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Birth to 6 months | 15 mcg* | 15 mcg* | ||
7–12 months | 20 mcg* | 20 mcg* | ||
1–3 years | 20 mcg | 20 mcg | ||
4–8 years | 30 mcg | 30 mcg | ||
9–13 years | 40 mcg | 40 mcg | ||
14–18 years | 55 mcg | 55 mcg | 60 mcg | 70 mcg |
19–50 years | 55 mcg | 55 mcg | 60 mcg | 70 mcg |
51+ years | 55 mcg | 55 mcg |
Food | Micrograms (mcg) per serving | Percent DV* |
---|---|---|
Brazil nuts, 1 ounce (6–8 nuts) | 544 | 989 |
Tuna, yellowfin, cooked, dry heat, 3 ounces | 92 | 167 |
Halibut, cooked, dry heat, 3 ounces | 47 | 85 |
Sardines, canned in oil, drained solids with bone, 3 ounces | 45 | 82 |
Ham, roasted, 3 ounces | 42 | 76 |
Shrimp, canned, 3 ounces | 40 | 73 |
Macaroni, enriched, cooked, 1 cup | 37 | 67 |
Beef steak, bottom round, roasted, 3 ounces | 33 | 60 |
Turkey, boneless, roasted, 3 ounces | 31 | 56 |
Beef liver, pan fried, 3 ounces | 28 | 51 |
Chicken, light meat, roasted, 3 ounces | 22 | 40 |
Cottage cheese, 1% milkfat, 1 cup | 20 | 36 |
Rice, brown, long-grain, cooked, 1 cup | 19 | 35 |
Beef, ground, 25% fat, broiled, 3 ounces | 18 | 33 |
Egg, hard-boiled, 1 large | 15 | 27 |
Bread, whole-wheat, 1 slice | 13 | 24 |
Baked beans, canned, plain or vegetarian, 1 cup | 13 | 24 |
Oatmeal, regular and quick, unenriched, cooked with water, 1 cup | 13 | 24 |
Milk, 1% fat, 1 cup | 8 | 15 |
Yogurt, plain, low fat, 1 cup | 8 | 15 |
Lentils, boiled, 1 cup | 6 | 11 |
Bread, white, 1 slice | 6 | 11 |
Spinach, frozen, boiled, ½ cup | 5 | 9 |
Spaghetti sauce, marinara, 1 cup | 4 | 7 |
Cashew nuts, dry roasted, 1 ounce | 3 | 5 |
Corn flakes, 1 cup | 2 | 4 |
Green peas, frozen, boiled, ½ cup | 1 | 2 |
Bananas, sliced, ½ cup | 1 | 2 |
Potato, baked, flesh and skin, 1 potato | 1 | 2 |
Peach, yellow, raw, 1 medium | 0 | 0 |
Carrots, raw, ½ cup | 0 | 0 |
Lettuce, iceberg, raw, 1 cup | 0 | 0 |
Species | Mercury in ppm | Mercury (in mcg) per 3 ounces (85 grams) |
Light tuna (canned) | 0.126 | 10.71 |
Skipjack tuna (fresh or frozen) | 0.144 | 12.24 |
Albacore tuna (canned) | 0.350 | 29.75 |
Yellowfin tuna (fresh or frozen) | 0.354 | 30.09 |
Albacore tuna (fresh or frozen) | 0.358 | 30.43 |
Bigeye tuna (fresh or frozen) | 0.689 | 58.57 |
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that 0.045 mcg of mercury per pound (0.1 mcg per kg) of body weight per day is the maximum safe dose of mercury. This amount is known as a reference dose (
Body weight | Reference dose per day (in mcg) | Reference dose per week (in mcg) |
100 pounds (45 kg) | 4.5 | 31.5 |
125 pounds (57 kg) | 5.7 | 39.9 |
150 pounds (68 kg) | 6.8 | 47.6 |
175 pounds (80 kg) | 8.0 | 56.0 |
200 pounds (91 kg) | 9.1 | 63.7 |
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