Myths vs facts: Selen and Fruchtbarkeit

Selenium is an essential trace element that supports antioxidant defense via selenoproteins like GPX1, which protect sperm and oocytes from oxidative damage. Adequate selenium status is associated with better fertility outcomes, but supplementation in already replete individuals shows no clear benefit and may be harmful at high doses. Myths portraying selenium as a 'miracle cure' for infertility are not evidence-based. The evidence is moderate: observational and mechanistic studies suggest a role, but large randomized trials are lacking. Consumer DNA tests reporting GPX1 variants without measuring actual selenium status or dietary intake have limited clinical utility. A balanced diet (e.g., Brazil nuts, fish) is preferable to unguided supplementation.