Unexplainable hair fall in this Maharashtra district is due to wheat?

What has come as stunning information is that wheat is accountable for the unexplainable hair fall in natives residing in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district.
Incidents of sudden hair loss or acute onset alopecia totalis in Maharashtra’s Buldhana district, which hit nationwide headlines, are linked to excessive selenium content material discovered in wheat from Punjab and Haryana provided by native ration retailers, a report by Padma Shri awardee knowledgeable Dr Himmatrao Bawaskar advised information company PTI.
“After reaching the affected areas and collecting samples, we found that individuals, primarily young women, were presenting with symptoms such as headache, fever, scalp itching, tingling, and, in some cases, vomiting and loose motions. The primary cause of the outbreak was linked to wheat imported from Punjab and Haryana, which has been found to have a significantly higher selenium content than locally produced wheat,” Bawaskar advised the media.
He discovered that the wheat in the affected area has 600 instances extra selenium than the domestically grown selection. “Blood, urine, and hair samples showed a 35-fold, 60-fold, and 150-fold increase in selenium content, respectively. This suggests that excessive selenium intake is a direct contributor to the outbreak. Our team also found that zinc levels were significantly lower in the affected individuals, pointing to a potential imbalance caused by the excess selenium,” Bawaskar mentioned.

What else can excessive quantity of selenium in the physique trigger?

Selenium is a necessary mineral that performs an important position in metabolism, thyroid operate, and immune well being. However, extreme selenium consumption can lead to toxicity, often known as selenosis, which might trigger a spread of antagonistic results.
High selenium ranges can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach ache. These signs are widespread in circumstances of acute selenium toxicity.
Chronic overconsumption might trigger brittle nails, hair thinning, and even hair loss. White spots or ridges on nails may seem.
Excess selenium can impression the nervous system, inflicting dizziness, irritability, fatigue, and in extreme circumstances, nerve harm main to numbness or tingling.
A definite garlic-like odor in breath and a persistent metallic style in the mouth are widespread indicators of selenium overdose.
Adults ought to eat 55 mcg/day, with an higher restrict of 400 mcg/day.
(With inputs from PTI)