Selenium, a Vital Nutrient for Health and Protection from Oxidative Damage
Selenium, is a vital nutrient for health and protection from oxidative damage
Selenium is a micro-nutrient essential for humans, and is a constituent of selenoproteins that play a vital role in DNA synthesis, thyroid hormone metabolism, reproduction, and also provide protection from infection and oxidative damage. Furthermore, this micro-nutrient promotes a healthy heart, is required for metabolism, stimulates the immune system, and is an antinflammatory. Selenium is present in different foods, such as Brazil nuts, sardines, yellow fin tuna, and grass-fed beef. This important nutrient is also available as a dietary supplement. In humans and animals, selenium occurs in the form of selenomethionine. Selenium is present in the blood, and is stored mainly in the liver and skeletal muscles. The importance of selenium to health started to arise in the 1940s, when some studies provided evidence that selenium could prevent the liver cancer formation in rodents, and muscular dystrophy in pigs, hens and calves.
Selenium protects from free radicals
Back in the 1970s, scientists found that the enzyme Glutathione peroxide, contains 4 selenium atoms in its structure, and acts against the oxygen-free radicals, hydrogen peroxide and fatty acids peroxide, and thus preventing cells damage. These findings provided scientific evidence that selenium plays an important role in disease prevention, since free radicals are linked to a number of diseases. Moreover, this mineral contributes to inhibiting the toxic effects of heavy metals, such as led, mercury, arsenic and cadmium. The antioxidant effects of selenium are increased when combined with the vitamins A, B6, C and E.
Selenium boosts the immune system
Selenium increases the capability of the macrophages and T-lymphocytes to destroy bacteria and viruses, and thus, providing a stronger protection against infections. Also, a stronger immune system destroys cancer cells, and suppresses cancer growth more efficiently.
Selenium and cardiovascular health
The results from experiments suggest that people with selenium deficiency develop a degenerative disease within the cardiac muscles, and as a consequence, the efficiency of the heart to pump blood is reduced. Also, low selenium intake may lead to increased incidence of atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction, reduced HDL cholesterol level, and increased platelets aggregation. Besides, individuals with selenium deficiency tend to develop joints and cartilage conditions. This provides further evidence that selenium is very important to health.
Selenium and cancer prevention
Animal experiments have shown that low selenium levels increase the risk of developing cancer. Human studies provided evidence that the optimal amount of selenium intake, decreases the risk of developing colorectal cancer, especially in women. This is consistent with other studies suggesting that the optimal selenium intake reduces the incidence of developing different types of cancer, including lung, oesophageal, breast, gastric and prostate. The anti-cancer effects of selenium include lowering the mutagenic power of carcinogenic chemicals, and inhibiting the carcinogenic viruses reproduction, regulation of cell proliferation, and suppressing cancerogenic cell division, as well as preventing them from spreading through the tissues. Also, selenium is important for the suppression of blood vessels supplying nutrients to cancer cells, protection from oxidative stress, and immune system support.
Selenium intake
The minimum daily amount of selenium is 55mgm, while the optimal amount is 100mgm. Smoking and drinking individuals, and patients with gastro-intestinal conditions, heart disease and cancer, tend to have low level of selenium, and the clinician may prescribe supplements of 200mgm daily.
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