. 2020 Oct; 143: 109878.
Published online 2020 May 24. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109878
PMCID: PMC7246001
PMID: 32464491

Selenium supplementation in the prevention of coronavirus infections (COVID-19)

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In view of the facts mentioned above it seems logical to assume that sodium selenite could represent a potential agent for the prevention of viral infections including coronavirus, according to the mechanism suggested for the Ebola virus . In the paper presented by Jayawarden , the authors stated that selenium supplementation inhibited the development of polio and influenza virus. Which also agrees with our hypothesis that selenium strengthens the immune system. This element increases the proliferation of natural killer (NK) cells. Selenium also has a positive effect in combination with some vitamins (D, E) as presented in the work Delesderrier et al. . The combination of phytoncides found in onions along with selenium increased T lymphocyte proliferation . In addition, selenium reduces the formation of thrombosis in the blood vessels. According to Fogarty , blood coagulation disorders leading to the formation of micro-clots are a significant cause of death in patients with COVID-19. We believe that the use of sodium selenite in anticoagulation therapy may reduce the risk of blood clots forming (formation of high-molecular polymer – parafibrin) in patients with COVID-19 particularly at risk for its severe course. It should be mentioned that this chemical reagent is rather inexpensive and readily available. It is only unfortunately that physicians, having limited knowledge of this mineral, cannot understand that such a simple chemical substance can have such dramatic health effects.

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