Low selenium tied to weaker muscles in the elderly

Older adults with low levels of the mineral selenium have less muscle strength, a new study shows.

Researchers found that in a group of men and women age 65 and up, those with the lowest blood levels of selenium were at greatest risk of poor muscle strength around the hips, knees and hands.

People commonly lose muscle mass and strength as they age, which contributes to falls, injuries and illness in elderly adults. The new findings, reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, suggest that low selenium levels may be one of the reasons for age-related muscle weakness.

It's too soon, however, to recommend selenium supplements for stronger muscles, according to the researchers. More studies are needed to see whether extra selenium benefits older muscles, they suggest. Food sources of selenium include grains, certain nuts, like Brazil nuts, and some meats and seafood, such as beef and tuna.

"To our knowledge, this is the first study to show an association between plasma selenium concentrations and poor muscle strength in older adults," according to Dr. Fulvio Lauretani, of the Tuscany Regional Agency in Florence, Italy, and his colleagues...............


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