It is well known that the COVID-19 virus challenges the immune system, and it is possible that supplementation with important nutrients could be helpful in fighting a COVID-19 infection. There is very little scientific evidence (clinical trials) to actually support the practical use of supplements, such as selenium. There was only one clinical trial that was found that could hint at the possible benefit of selenium supplementation.
At this time I would not recommend selenium as a standard of therapy in all COVID-19 positive patients, but it is a possible supplementation in those with low selenium levels if checked.
= Supporting use article | = Neutral Article | = Contradicting use article |
Major peer-reviewed studies providing context for therapy
Observational Studies
-
“Prediction of survival odds in COVID-19 by zinc, age and selenoprotein P as composite biomarker” Heller RA, Sun Q, Hackler J, Seelig J, Seibert L, Cherkezov A, Minich WB, Seemann P, Diegmann J, Pilz M, Bachmann M, Ranjbar A, Moghaddam A, Schomburg L. Prediction of survival odds in COVID-19 by zinc, age and selenoprotein P as composite biomarker. Redox Biol. 2021 Jan;38:101764. Epub 2020 Oct 20.
The purpose of the study was to look at COVID-19 positive patients and determine what their serum zinc levels were and compare this to the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). They also looked at the selenium status biomarker and the selenium transporter selenoprotein P (SELENOP). It was determined that both zinc and SELENOP, when within the reference ranges, indicate a higher survival odds in COVID-19 and assumes that correcting a diagnostically proven deficit in selenium and/or zinc by a personalised supplementation may support recovery from COVID-19.