Beauty supplement raises risk of diabetes, says study

A new study carried out at the University of Surrey in Guildford has claimed that selenium beauty supplements, which are taken to help maintain healthy skin, could actually increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The supplements, which have high antioxidant levels and are believed to prevent damage to skin cells from the su, could potentially result in diabetes if levels of selenium in the diet become too high. It was also found to have an effect on immune function and cognitive decline, and excessive amounts of the mineral in the blood are also thought to cause selenosis, a condition involving loss of hair, skin and nails.
However, the research showed that high levels of the mineral brought benefits for men, such as improved fertility and helping to protect against prostate, lung and bladder cancer. These benefits were only experienced if there are only small amounts of selenium in the diet already. It was recommended by the study that selenium supplements should be avoided by people whose blood levels have 122 micrograms per litre or higher of selenium, but that is was fine for people with low levels.
A previous study had also found that high levels of selenium can raise cholesterol levels by 10 per cent, as the blood is absorbing too much of the mineral, resulting in adverse affects to the cholesterol levels.