Monday Oct 21, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Taking high doses of selenium supplements helps critically ill patients, according to a study published in Journal of Critical Care.

F. Landucci from University of Florence in Italy and colleagues reviewed previous studies and found intravenous selenium supplementation can improve antioxidant status and protect against infection and organ failure, and improve prognosis in critically ill patients.

The scientists systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed nine randomized controlled trials on selenium supplementation vs. standard therapy without any adjuvant therapy in critically ill adult patients.

Selenium supplementation was found associated with 16% reduced 28-day mortality, but doses of selenium lower or equal to 500 ug per day did not result in significant effects.  Among the nine studies, only two did not show reduced 6-month mortality.

The study concluded "The use of high-dose selenium might be associated with a beneficial effect on 28-day mortality in critically ill patients. Nevertheless, the use of selenium as adjuvant therapy needs further evaluations." (JD)