Can a vitamin and mineral combo help tired seniors feel better?
Supplementation with selenium and coenzyme Q10 in an elderly Swedish population low in selenium — positive effects on thyroid hormones, cardiovascular mortality, and quality of life
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Older people with low selenium often have sluggish thyroid function, which can make them feel tired and increase heart risks. This study gave them selenium and coenzyme Q10 daily for 4 years to see if it helped.
Surprising Findings
Increasing reverse T3 (rT3) was linked to better outcomes, not worse.
rT3 is typically labeled as a 'waste product' or marker of thyroid dysfunction, but here it rose alongside improved health—suggesting it’s a protective adaptation, not a problem.
Practical Takeaways
If you're over 60 and live in Europe or a low-selenium region, get your plasma selenium tested—if below 80 µg/L, consider 200 µg selenium + 200 mg CoQ10 daily under medical supervision.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Older people with low selenium often have sluggish thyroid function, which can make them feel tired and increase heart risks. This study gave them selenium and coenzyme Q10 daily for 4 years to see if it helped.
Surprising Findings
Increasing reverse T3 (rT3) was linked to better outcomes, not worse.
rT3 is typically labeled as a 'waste product' or marker of thyroid dysfunction, but here it rose alongside improved health—suggesting it’s a protective adaptation, not a problem.
Practical Takeaways
If you're over 60 and live in Europe or a low-selenium region, get your plasma selenium tested—if below 80 µg/L, consider 200 µg selenium + 200 mg CoQ10 daily under medical supervision.
Publication
Journal
BMC Medicine
Year
2024
Authors
U. Alehagen, J. Alexander, J. Aaseth, A. Larsson, Trine B. Opstad
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Claims (6)
In older adults with low selenium levels, taking selenium and coenzyme Q10 supplements for four years results in a smaller rise in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels compared to taking a placebo, and fewer people reach the TSH level that defines subclinical hypothyroidism.
In older adults with low selenium levels, taking selenium and coenzyme Q10 supplements is associated with higher levels of reverse T3, a thyroid hormone metabolite, which may indicate a biological adjustment to lower metabolic activity.
In older adults with low selenium levels, taking 200 micrograms of selenium and 200 milligrams of coenzyme Q10 daily for four years is associated with an increase in free triiodothyronine and a decrease in free thyroxine, indicating a change in thyroid hormone conversion that may influence metabolic and cardiovascular health.
The body converts the thyroid hormone T4 into its active form, T3, using enzymes that require selenium as a component.
In older adults with low selenium levels, higher baseline TSH levels are linked to a 35% increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease over 10 years. Taking selenium and coenzyme Q10 supplements appears to remove this increased risk.