Proper Name: Selenium

Common Name: Selenium

Evidence of Efficacy: statement to the effect of Selenium deficiency or imbalance plays a role in the symptoms of mood disorders¹. Observational and experimental studies have shown an association between selenium and anxiety¹, depression^2,3, and schizophrenia^{4,5,6,7,8,9,10}.                 

References:

1. Benton D, Cook R. The impact of selenium supplementation on mood. Biol Psychiatry 29(11):1092-8, 1991.

2. Hawkes WC, Hornbostel L. Effects of dietary selenium on mood in healthy men living in a metabolic research unit. Biol Psychiatry 39:121-8, 1996.

3. Benton D, Cook R. The impact of selenium supplementation on mood. Biol Psychiatry 29(11):1092-8, 1991.

4. Brown JS Jr. Role of selenium and other trace elements in the geography of schizophrenia. Schizophr Bull 20(2):387-98, 1994.

5. Foster HD. Schizophrenia and esophageal cancer: comments on similarities in their spatial distributions. J Orthomol Med 5(3):129-34, 1990.

6. Foster HD. The geography of schizophrenia: possible links with selenium and calcium deficiencies, inadequate exposure to sunlight and industrialization. J Orthomol Med 3(3):135-40, 1988.

7. Alertsen AR, Aukrust A, Skaug OE. Selenium concentrations in blood and serum from patients with mental diseases. Acta Psychiatr Scand 74(2):217-19, 1986.

8. Buckman TD, Kling AS, Eiduscon S, et al. Glutathione peroxidase and CT scan abnormalities in schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 22(11):1349-56, 1987.

9. Abdalla DS, Monteiro HP, Oliveira JA, Bechara EJ. Activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase in schizophrenic and manic-depressive patients. Clin Chem 32(5):805-7, 1986.