Benefits of Selenium in All Aspects of Life

Photovoltaic and photographic equipment use selenium for its chemical

properties. The glass industry uses it for a pigment which imparts red color

to glass and enamel. First identified in 1817 by Jons Jakob Berzeleus;

selenium is named for the Greek word “selene” which means moon.

Selenium is used in the human body to form selenoproteins which are

antioxidants. They are not like other antioxidants which are primarily

polyphenols.

Although selenium can be obtained from some plants; the plants do not produce

this substance as they do the vitamin antioxidants. The level of selenium

present in plants varies according to the level in the soil where each plant

is grown.

Rather selenium is a mineral which is absorbed by plants and made into other

biological compounds. One of these substances, called selenomethionine is

found in some staple foods of many global diets. Foods like corn, soybeans,

and wheat contain selenomethionine.

Selenium is a trace element in the human diet meaning, of course, that only a

small amount of it is needed. “Too much of a good thing”, is a truism which

would apply to high amounts of this nutrient. Levels higher than the upper

tolerable level (400 micrograms per day) would result in minor selenosis

symptoms like alopecia--loss of hair. In cases of higher amounts of dietary

supplementation, cirrhosis of the liver or pulmonary edema could result.

Selenium plays a role in thyroid function and its use may prevent goiters from

developing. This is because of its iodine complement. Goiters are growths

which occur on the thyroid located on the underside of the throat in the

absence of dietary iodine. Selenium deficiency exacerbates this condition.

Keshan Disease(which causes enlarging of the heart); Kashin-Beck(causes

osteoarthropathy) and Myxedematous Endemic Cretinism(which results in mental

retardation) are all diseases known to be caused by selenium deficiency.

Aboriginal diets tend to be low in selenium in sub-Saharan Africa but high in

part of Northern Nebraska and the Dakotas. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV /

AIDS) infections have been found in greater numbers in areas of Africa which

have selenium poor soil than in Senegal which does not.

This has led researchers to study the possible correlation. It has been

discovered that there is evidence of slow decline in selenium levels in

individuals who suffer from this disease. Anyone with this disease may benefit

from selenium supplementation.

Additionally, selenium may complement vitamin E to achieve a greater

antioxidant effect. Selenium reduces cataract formation as one of its strong

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