Selenium. A critical metal for brain health and anti-inflammation. It is present in a small amount in the body: termed trace element.

Selenium has captured recent interest in the medical scientific community. It is present in very small amount natively, referred to as a trace element. Its value lies in protecting brain health and as an anti-inflammatory entity - so very important.

Someone has raised concern that chelation with DTPA may remove not only Gd and lead, but also Selenium. I do not believe so, but I am not 100% certain. One way to increase or decrease concern is to demonstrate the log stability constant of Selenium with DTPA. This is a lab test so can be studied in test-tubes with larger than normal amounts of Selenium to clearly show stability. If stability constant with DTPA is low, for example 4, then the risk is extremely low, if it is high, in the order of Gd, so around 20-22 then the risk is theoretically real.

In the mean time, for those who intrinsically are worriers, and GDD sufferers come by that honestly. the smartest approach is to include foods in your diet that have a high selenium content. These include: turmeric (which is convenient, since I recommend this already as a supplement one should take regularly if a person has GDD), basel (so use this in salads and cooking), black pepper, and the Brazil nut (apparently high in Selenium and other valuable nutrients) so eat Brazil nuts at least on occasion. Unsprouted walnut is another nut in general I advocate. I recommend looking on-line for foods with high selenium content, when you are also looking for foods with high magnesium, potassium, and anti-inflammatory properties.

At some point I will devise a Gadolinium Toxicity diet, maybe more broadly a Heavy metal diet. I could term it the White Sabbath Heavy Metal diet.

Richard Semelka, MD.