Vitamin E And Selenium Supplement Benefits, Interactions & Side Effects

Vitamin E and selenium are two antioxidants that are very important for health. They work together to protect cells from oxidative damage and to support health aging.

Vitamin E is a blanket name for a class of tocotrienol, tocopherol, polysaccharide and flavonoid compounds. It is a primary antioxidant that protects essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins inside cells.

Vitamin E helps to protect cell membranes from free radical damage, and inhibits the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. [1] We cannot make this vitamin endogenously and must gain it from the diet.

Selenium (Se) is a trace element that is the chemical base of various selenoproteins and selenoenzymes. Together, these selenocompounds play a diverse range of health roles in the body. [3]

Selenium is considered to be a more effective antioxidant when it is combined with Vitamin E. This mineral is also involved in regulating thyroid hormone levels, the immune system and supporting detoxification.

Researchers have been examining the effects of supplementing with Vitamin E and Selenium for reducing risk factors for certain diseases such as prostate cancer.

Selenium

Essential Mineral

Anti-Oxidant

Immunity

Thyroid Function

How It Works:

• Cofactor for antioxidant enzymes
• Supports thyroid function & metabolism
• Promotes immune function & fertility

Dosage:

Up to 400 mcg per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe at Appropriate Dosages

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Vitamin E Health Benefits

Vitamin E is important for proper functioning of all organs and helps to protect against oxidative damage.

According to Dr. Josh Axe, vitamin E is “extremely useful in naturally slowing aging”. It is a fat-soluble antioxidant that can prevent the propagation of reactive oxygen species through lipid membranes in the body.

The US FDA recommends that adult men and women consume 15 mg/day of this vitamin from foods or supplements Vitamin E can be found in foods like organic eggs, wheat germ oil, certain nuts and seeds, poultry and various types of produce.

According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database (NMCD), vitamin E is also included as a primary or secondary constituent in nearly 12,000 different dietary supplement products.

The following health benefits have been associated with proper intake of Vitamin E:

• Improves cognitive health;
• Reduces risk factors for disease development;
• Supports physical endurance;
• Supports muscular strength;
• May aid in repairing damaged skin;
• Supports health cholesterol levels and inhibits peroxidation;
• Helps maintain hormone balance;
• Combats free radicals;
• Helps to maintain thick and healthy hair follicles;

Dr. Axe also states that vitamin E improves vision, PMS symptoms and the effects of various medical treatments and prescription medications.

If you do not get enough natural sources of Vitamin E from foods in your diet, supplementation may be necessary.

Dr. Joseph Mercola recommends that all nutrients should be gained primarily from the foods we eat and not dietary supplements. However, if you do need to use a supplement to reach your recommended intake, it is important not to use synthetic vitamin E manufactured with petrochemicals and/or soy.

He recommended that consumers look for the D-form (not DL-form) of vitamin E sourced from organic sunflower.

Dr. Mercola further recommends that you use a vitamin E supplement that contains the “full family” of both tocopherols and tocotrienols. He states that more than 90% of vitamin E supplements contain only the alpha types. You need alpha, beta, gamma and delta forms to support optimal health.

It is also important to purchase this supplement in forms that have a long shelf-life and are less susceptible to going rancid. He suggests that consumers look for vitamin E supplements without gelatin-based capsules, which are permeable and soft. They allow oxygen to pass through and degrade (oxidize) the vitamin E oil inside.

The US RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for vitamin E is 15 milligrams (mg). The UL (upper level of tolerability) for vitamin E is 1000 mg/day.

Selenium Health Benefits

Selenium is an essential micronutrient in humans, used in the body to protect cells against oxidative damage.

This trace mineral is also a cofactor for enzymes that are involved in activating and deactivating thyroid hormones.

Selenium is a very reactive atom. In the body, itis incorporated into selenoproteins which are protein molecules that contain a selenocysteine amino acid residue.

According to researchers from Harvard University Medical School, selenoproteins are involved in diverse molecular pathways and biological functions. [3] Some of the most important selenoproteins are the glutathione enzymes which are primary antioxidants in the body.

A 2016 German research review on the role of selenium in the body states that it helps to modulate important biological processes including [4]:

• Cellular response to oxidative stress;
• Cellular differentiation;
• Immune response;
• Redox signaling;
• Protein folding;

According to a summary from the University of Hawaii, the family of selenoproteins “contains several antioxidant enzymes such as the glutathione peroxidases, redox-regulating enzymes such as thioredoxin reductases, a methionine sulfoxide reductase, and others”. [4]

According to Dr. Edward Group III, selenium health benefits include:

• Promotes heavy metal detoxification;
• Provides potent antioxidant protection;
• Supports proper thyroid function;
• Supports cardiovascular function;
• Slows down the aging process;
• Improves reproductive health;
• May decrease cancer risk;

The many ways that selenocompounds affect health are not yet well understood. Researchers continue to explore the possible roles of selenium-containing compounds in cardiovascular health, cancer, cognitive decline, diabetes and various other disorders.

Vitamin E and Selenium for Prostate Cancer

Vitamin E and selenium are both known for their potent antioxidant activity.

Antioxidants work to reduce the effects of oxidative damage which can occur when molecules with unpaired electrons called “reactive oxygen species” react with other molecules and steal their electrons.

This can destabilize otherwise healthy cell components like DNA, protein molecules or lipid membranes, resulting in premature cell death or other complications.

Oxidative stress is believed to be one mechanism responsible for numerous disease, including multiple types of cancer. [2]

Various studies have suggested that vitamin E and selenium act separately to reduce risk factors for developing cancer, including the risk of prostate cancer.

Because of their apparent antioxidant and anticancer effects, multiple studies, including SELECT (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial), have examined the results of their combined use.

There has been significant interest into the effects of these compounds on prostate cancer development and progression. However, studies conducted so far have not demonstrated a positive effect from supplementation.

SELECT was a Phase-III, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 4-arm study involving more than 35,000 men. It was funded by the National Cancer Institute and conducted by SWOG (the Southwest Oncology Group).

According to a 2015 review of SELECT data from Florida International University, “The SELECT study failed to show any significant risk reduction for prostate cancers ascribable to selenium and vitamin E supplementations.” [2]

This does not mean that Vitamin E and Selenium do not affect prostate cancer risk. Rather, it means that the supplementation protocol used in the study did not cause a significant change in risk factors for prostate cancer. The existing data is insufficient to make firm determinations.

Vitamin E and Selenium Side Effects and Interactions

Both vitamin E and selenium are considered safe to use as dietary supplements when taken appropriately, but both can cause side effects in some cases.

Vitamin E can cause headaches, dizziness, light-headedness, weakness, stomach cramps or excessive bleeding in some people. Selenium may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, changes in mood, fatigue and other adverse reactions.

Excessive dosages of selenium can be dangerous for human health and lead to the development of toxicity. Do not take more of this mineral than what is recommended by your physician.

Both of these important nutrients can interact with certain health conditions, drugs, herbal supplements and laboratory tests. It is best to seek the advice of a medical professional before beginning to supplement your diet with vitamin E and/or selenium.

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