Selenium is classed as a type of mineral. A mineral refers to a naturally occurring inorganic element or compound, and are responsible for various roles in the body such as keeping your bones, muscles, heart, and brain working properly, as well as producing enzymes and hormones.
While selenium can be found in soil and water, us humans receive most of our selenium from our diet. Foods that contain selenium include crab, liver, poultry, wheat, and nuts. However, the amount of selenium present in these foods is dependent on where it was grown or raised.
Selenium contributes to many aspects of human health. Some of which include:
- Works as a powerful antioxidant:Antioxidants are compounds that help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals (unstable atoms that can damage cells). They do this by neutralizing the free radicals by sacrificing some of their own electrons (a negatively charged subatomic particle). This process naturally switches off a free radical, breaking a chain reaction that can affect other molecules in the cell as well as other cells within the body.
- Contributes to a healthy heart: Studies suggest that selenium may have the potential to lower levels of inflammation in the body – one of the primary risk factors for heart disease.
- Helps prevent mental decline:When free radicals outnumber antioxidants, it can lead to a state known as oxidate stress. Oxidate stress is thought to be linked in both the onset and progression of neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Alzheimer’s disease. Moreover, research has indicated that supplementing with selenium rich food may enhance verbal fluency and other mental processes in patients with mild cognitive impairment.
- Contributes to normal thyroid function: The thyroid tissue contains higher levels of selenium than any other organ with the human body. Selenium plays a key role in the production of thyroid hormones which regulate the body’s metabolic rate controlling heart, muscle and digestive function, brain development and bone maintenance.
- Contributes to a healthy immune system: Higher levels of selenium within the body has been linked to an enhanced immune response. In addition, studies have shown that selenium may even strengthen the immune system in individuals with influenzas, tuberculosis, and hepatitis C.
- May help respiratory issues in those with asthma: Asthma is a respiratory disease that causes narrowing of the airways resulting in shortness of breath and difficulty breathing. Asthma has been linked to higher levels of oxidative stress and inflammation in the body. Studies has found that selenium may have the ability to reduce asthma related symptoms.
- Maintenance of hair and nails:The live tissue that pushes out from the hair follicles and the nail bed is partly dependent on selenium. Thereby, a deficiency in selenium can affect nail and hair health. Increasing your intake of selenium through diet or by supplementation can often assist with nail and hair problems such as split ends in hair, and brittleness of nails.
- Assists in spermatogenesis and sperm motility in men: Selenium plays an important role in male’s reproductive health, particularly for spermatogenesis (the development of the sperm cells) and sperm motility (the ability of sperm to move or swim efficiently through the female productive tract).
Sona Selenium contains 100ug of selenium per tablet.
References
- Boitani, C., & Puglisi, R. (2009). Selenium, a Key Element in Spermatogenesis and Male Fertility. Advances In Experimental Medicine And Biology, 65-73. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-09597-4_4.
- Flores-Mateo, G., Navas-Acien, A., Pastor-Barriuso, R., & Guallar, E. (2006). Selenium and coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 84(4), 762–773.https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/84.4.762.
Hurt, H., Cary, E., & Visek, W. (1971). Growth, Reproduction, and Tissue Concentrations of Selenium in the Selenium-depleted Rat. The Journal Of Nutrition, 101(6), 761-766. doi: 10.1093/jn/101.6.761.
- Guo, C. H., Liu, P. J., Hsia, S., Chuang, C. J., & Chen, P. C. (2011). Role of certain trace minerals in oxidative stress, inflammation, CD4/CD8 lymphocyte ratios and lung function in asthmatic patients. Annals of clinical biochemistry, 48(Pt 4), 344–351.https://doi.org/10.1258/acb.2011.010266.
- Santos, J., Gois, A., Mendonça, D., & Freire, M. (2014). Nutritional status, oxidative stress and dementia: the role of selenium in Alzheimer's disease. Frontiers In Aging Neuroscience, 6. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2014.00206.
- Sharma, N. (2014). Free Radicals, Antioxidants and Disease. Biology And Medicine, 06(03). doi: 10.4172/0974-8369.1000214.
- Steinbrenner, H., Al-Quraishy, S., Dkhil, M., Wunderlich, F., & Sies, H. (2015). Dietary Selenium in Adjuvant Therapy of Viral and Bacterial Infections. Advances In Nutrition, 6(1), 73-82. doi: 10.3945/an.114.007575.
- Ventura, M., Melo, M., & Carrilho, F. (2017). Selenium and Thyroid Disease: From Pathophysiology to Treatment. International Journal Of Endocrinology, 2017, 1-9. doi: 10.1155/2017/1297658.