Selenium for Secondary Lymphedema

Can Selenium help control secondary Lymphedema?
[excerts from Oncologypractice.com]

Selenium Supplementation

A more recent therapeutic option for lymphedema is selenium (sodium selenite), the antiedematous effect of which is proven but not widely published or accepted. Early clinical studies have shown that oral selenium supplementation in the form of sodium selenite lowers oxygen radical production, causes a spontaneous reduction in lymphedema volume, increases the efficacy of physical therapy for lymphedema, and reduces the incidence of erysipelas infections in patients with chronic lymphedema at various sites,

Kasseroller reported promising results of a placebo-controlled, doubleblinded study of selenium in 179 postmastectomy patients suffering from secondary lymphedema. He described a significant reduction in edema volume, as well as improvement in skin-fold index in subjects with arm edemas. The incidence of erysipelas was also reduced in the selenium-treated group compared with the placebo group.

The recommended dosage ranges between 300 and 500 µg selenium daily, which seems to be a safe level for both short- and long-term management of lymphedema. This dosage level of selenium was determined empirically as sufficient and effective in lymphedema treatment

Supplemental administration of selenium appears to be a biochemically sound, promising treatment option for patients with secondary lymphedema, with little risk. It has the potential to increase the efficacy of CPDT and appears to prevent or diminish the incidence of erysipelas infections. Long-term observational studies on larger groups of patients should reveal the optimal dose schedule of selenium supplementation and to what extent selenium supplementation delays or prevents the development of chronic degenerative processes, such as fibrosed lymphedema and elephantiasis, in affected sites.