Selenium and its health
advantages
What is selenium? What are the health benefits of selenium?

Selenium is a trace mineral essential to good health. Selenium asserts
its health benefits via the production of selenoproteins. Selenium is
incorporated into proteins to make selenoproteins. Selenoproteins are
antioxdants to help prevent cellular damage from free radicals. Free
radicals are natural by-products of oxygen metabolism that may
contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and
heart disease. Selenoproteins help regulate thyroid function and play a
role in the immune system. Selenium may provide important health
benefits to people whose oxidative stress loads are high, such as
those with inflammatory or infectious diseases like rheumatoid arthritis
or human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome, or who are at high risk for cancers, particularly prostate
cancer. Therefore, some people consider selenium as a vitamin offering
multiple health benefits.

What are the food sources of selenium?
Plant foods are the major food sources of selenium. The content of
selenium in food depends on the selenium content of the soil where
plants are grown or animals are raised. For example, soils in northern
Nebraska and the Dakotas have very high levels of selenium. People
living in those regions generally have the highest selenium intakes in
the United States (U.S.). In the U.S., food distribution patterns across
the country help prevent people living in low-selenium geographic
areas from having selenium deficiency. Soils in some parts of China and
Russia have very low amounts of selenium. Selenium deficiency is often
reported in those regions because most food in those areas is grown
and eaten locally.

Other foods with selenium include some meats and seafood. Animals
that eat grains or plants that were grown in selenium-rich soil have
higher levels of selenium in their muscle. In the U.S., meats and bread
are common sources of dietary selenium. Some nuts are also sources
of selenium.

When can selenium deficiency occur?
Human selenium deficiency is seen, where soil concentration of
selenium is low. There is evidence that selenium deficiency may
contribute to development of a form of heart disease, hypothyroidism,
and a weakened immune system.

Selenium deficiency can also make the body more susceptible to
illnesses caused by other nutritional, biochemical or infectious stresses.
Severe gastrointestinal disorders may decrease the absorption of
selenium, resulting in selenium depletion or deficiency.

Selenium and diseases
Observational studies indicate that death from cancer, including lung,
colorectal, and prostate cancers, is lower among people with higher
blood levels or intake of selenium. Surveys indicate that individuals
with rheumatoid arthritis have reduced selenium levels in their blood.
An examination of 125 HIV-positive men and women linked selenium
deficiency with a higher rate of death from HIV.

What are the side effects of selenium? Is high dose of selenium
poisoning?

Within the recommended daily allowance, selenium appears to be safe.
However, high blood levels of selenium (greater than 100 ug/dL) can
lead to a side effect called selenosis. Symptoms of selenosis include
gastrointestinal upsets, hair loss, white blotchy nails, garlic breath
odor, fatigue, irritability, and mild nerve damage.

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"Victoria crater" Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell  SPACE