Alopecia selenium

Hair loss (alopecia) has been reported in up to 4% of patients. It is often transient and may be attenuated with selenium (50 pg/day) and/or zinc sulfate (50 mg/day). Pregnancy... 

Multivitamins fortified with zinc and selenium may help reduce alopecia... 

The main environmental pathway of occupational exposure to selenium is through the air or, in some cases, by direct dermal contact. Srivastava et al. (1995) reports a worker employed in this type of job for 6 months who presented with alopecia areata, which later deteriorated to alopecia universalis. This patient s blood selenium levels were 0.5 pg/ml. Yang et al. (1983) reported mean blood selenium levels of 3.2 mg/1 in a selenium rich area in China where chronic selenosis was common. Mean normal blood selenium in different states of the U.S. and China range from 0.082 mg/ml to 0.206 mg/1. In spite of much work, knowledge about the health effects of occupational exposure to selenium is far from complete (Srivastava et al. 1995). Since alopecia areata is common in 1.7% of the population studied (Jackow et al. 1998), this report requires follow-up before a cause and effect relationship can be assumed. 

A 56-year old woman developed hair loss, discolored nails, metatarsal cramping, fatigue, and malaise. She had diffuse alopecia, and pulled hairs were in the anagen phase the nails were thickened and yellow distally. The serum selenium concentration was 166 pg/l (reference range 110-160) 7 weeks after the last dose of Total Body Formula . The hair and nails began to improve 2 months after the last dose and were completely normal after 7 months. 

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