Selenium Supplementation and the Effects on Reproductive Outcomes, Biomarkers of Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Horm Metab Res. 2015 Aug 12. [Epub ahead of print]
Selenium Supplementation and the Effects on Reproductive Outcomes, Biomarkers of Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.
Razavi M1, Jamilian M2, Kashan ZF3, Heidar Z4, Mohseni M3, Ghandi Y3, Bagherian T3, Asemi Z3.

Selenium supplementation could be effective on reproductive outcomes, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress among women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim of the study was to determine the effects of selenium supplementation on reproductive outcomes, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress in PCOS patients. The present randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 64 women aged 18-40 years old with PCOS at the clinic affiliated to Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran. The participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups receiving either 200 μg selenium daily (n=32) or placebo (n=32) for 8 weeks. Hormonal profiles, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress were measured and compared both before and after the treatment. After 8 weeks of intervention, pregnancy rate in the selenium group was higher than in the placebo group: 18.8 (6/32) vs. 3.1% (1/32), p=0.04. In addition, alopecia (40.6 vs. 9.4%, p=0.004) and acne (46.9 vs. 12.5 %, p=0.003) decreased following the consumption of selenium supplements compared with placebo. Additionally, patients who received selenium supplements had significantly decreased serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels (p=0.02), hirsutism (modified Ferriman-Gallwey scores) (p<0.001), serum high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (p=0.02), and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p=0.01) compared with placebo. We did not observe any significant effects of taking selenium supplements on other hormonal profiles, nitric oxide (NO), and other biomarkers of oxidative stress. Taken together, selenium supplementation for 8 weeks among PCOS women had beneficial effects on reproductive outcomes, DHEA, hs-CRP, and MDA levels. Supporting Information for this article is available online at http://www.thieme-connect.de/products.

Is decreased DHEA desired for hair loss? My DHEA is on the slightly low side, and my T level is a little low as well, especially free T. I thought many hair loss sufferers have low T profile contrary to popular belief, which is why some people take DHEA to help with hair loss. Am I missing something here? Also, how does MDA tie in with hair loss? Does that mean anything?

Changexpert wrote:Is decreased DHEA desired for hair loss? My DHEA is on the slightly low side, and my T level is a little low as well, especially free T. I thought many hair loss sufferers have low T profile contrary to popular belief, which is why some people take DHEA to help with hair loss. Am I missing something here? Also, how does MDA tie in with hair loss? Does that mean anything?

Very high DHEA in FEMALEs, is inversely correlated with general health (opposed to MALEs). Yes, it's youthful to have high DHEA, if male. Selenium has a beneficial role in prostate and testes health particularly with lowering PSA (inflammation). It affects DHEA? Probably less than zinc.

Beebrox wrote:
Very high DHEA in FEMALEs, is inversely correlated with general health (opposed to MALEs). Yes, it's youthful to have high DHEA, if male. Selenium has a beneficial role in prostate and testes health particularly with lowering PSA (inflammation). It affects DHEA? Probably less than zinc.

Thanks for your response. I did a quick research on DHEA and zinc relationship, but could not find a study that revealed direct relationship. Could you elaborate on how zinc helps or antagonzies DHEA?

I forget a bit how it goes, but thymus via immune system is involved in these.