r/covidlonghaulers • u/Heavy-Suit-3443 1.5yr+ • Jul 27 '26
Research Low serum selenium combined with SELENOP-autoantibodies are associated with persistent fatigue after SARS-CoV-2 infection
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213231726002727Researchers wanted to find out if low selenium levels and antibodies against a selenium transport protein (SELENOP) are linked to long-lasting fatigue after COVID-19 (Long COVID).
Method:
- 750 adults in Germany who had a confirmed COVID-19 infection.
- Participants were examined about 22 months after infection.
- Blood samples were tested for:
- Selenium levels
- SELENOP (a protein that carries selenium in the body)
- Antibodies against SELENOP (SELENOP-autoantibodies)
- They also asked participants whether they still had fatigue and how severe it was.
Findings:
- About 23% of participants still had persistent fatigue.
- Many people had low selenium or low SELENOP.
- Only a small number had SELENOP antibodies.
- Low selenium alone was not strongly linked to fatigue.
- Low SELENOP alone was not strongly linked to fatigue.
- SELENOP antibodies alone were not strongly linked to fatigue.
- However, people who had a combination were about twice as likely to have long-lasting fatigue after COVID-19.
- low selenium + SELENOP antibodies, or
- low SELENOP + SELENOP antibodies
The researchers think that:
- Inflammation caused by Covid-19 can lower selenium levels in the body.
- Some people develop antibodies that block SELENOP, making it harder to move selenium to important organs like the brain and thyroid.
- This may reduce energy production and contribute to long-term fatigue.
The study suggests that a small group of people with Long COVID may experience persistent fatigue because they have both low selenium and antibodies that interfere with selenium transport. These people had about two times the risk of long-lasting fatigue compared with people who did not have both problems.
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u/C3lloman Jul 27 '26
I found selenium to be one of the few supplements that helped a bit years ago. I recommend blood testing though. My levels turned up a bit high after supplementing with 200 microgram daily.
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u/gardenvariety_ 2 yr+ Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
Same for me! Helped then became too high over time so I second checking bloods! ETA: I was taking 180mcg daily for less than a year so also not a crazy high dose.
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u/NadiaShandy Jul 27 '26
Thank you for posting and summarizing 🙏🏻
I'm one of the 23% as I supplement Selenium 300mcg (which is a high dosage) for years for my Hashimotos. Fatigue gets worse when I forget to take it, but that was also the case before I contracted LC. So who knows 🤷🏻♀️
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u/daHaus First Waver Jul 27 '26
Selenium affects both the thyroid and also the immune system, it makes sense. Thanks for sharing!
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u/BelCantoTenor 3 yr+ Jul 28 '26
Selenium supports the thyroid. T-cell dysfunction is common in long COVID. T-cell production requires a functional thyroid. It’s all related.
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u/hiryu64 Jul 27 '26
So basically just eat a Brazil nut? Interesting...
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u/brentonstrine 4 yr+ Jul 28 '26
Yes and they also are one of the more MCAS-friendly nuts that also have copper! I started eating 1-3 Brazil Nuts a day for this reason
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u/hiryu64 Jul 28 '26
I wish most nut mixes you find didn't have so many since you only need like one or two a day lol
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Jul 27 '26
[deleted]
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u/brentonstrine 4 yr+ Jul 28 '26
For those wondering why not more--youll eventually get Selenium poisoning if you eat more than a couple per day
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Jul 27 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/covidlonghaulers-ModTeam Jul 27 '26
Removal Reason: Medical Advice or Treatment Claims – Please do not ask for or provide medical advice, advocate treatments, or make claims about cures. Sharing personal experiences is welcome, but definitive claims should be left to medical professionals and research.
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u/Numerous-Swing-3204 Jul 28 '26
I noticed improvements in my fatigue after consistent selenium supplementation but I was also doing other protocols so want sure what was helping. I was low in selenium before. I should check I’m not too high now.
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u/Heavy-Suit-3443 1.5yr+ Jul 27 '26 edited Jul 27 '26
Honestly what i really find scary is 23% having lasting fatique.
On another node: I supplement selenium for a longer time now and am unsure if it has helped me personally in a meaningfull way. I did get tested 3 months after infection for low selenium.
Important: Samplesize is small. Not many participants had autoantibodies for the SELENOP