Selenium helpful in psoriasis

Researchers in Poland studied the role of dietary selenium in psoriasis. They used a case-controlled study to evaluate the role that dietary selenium had in the course of psoriasis.

30 psoriatic patients with a history of the disease for at least 3 years, 24 dermatological patients and 14 healthy people made up the survey. Selenium dietary intake was calculated from a 24 hour dietary recall and was measured with plasma selenium levels.

The results showed that selenium intake was correlated to red blood cells and that Selenium nutritional status appeared to be insufficient, particularly in women with psoriasis of no longer than 10 months’ duration, and in males with long-lasting psoriasis. In these men, plasma and red blood cell (GSH-PX) activity were inversely correlated to disease severity.

This suggests that selenium dietary intake may be one of the contributing factors in the suffering and cause of psoriasis, though further research is required to explore this relationship.

Serwin AB at al. Selenium nutritional status and the course of psoriasis. Polski Merkurusz Lekarski 6 (35): 263-5 May 1999

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