So Much to Do, So Little Selenium Needed

You may know that antioxidants can help protect your cells from oxidative damage, but do you know about selenium—an element often found in special proteins called antioxidant enzymes? Selenium is essential to your body, which means you must get it from the food you eat. But it’s a trace element so you only need a small amount to benefit from its effects. In addition to its antioxidant properties, it’s also important for reproduction, DNA synthesis, and hormone metabolism. In our bodies, selenium works in antioxidant enzymes to help protect us from oxidative damage. The element is also found in antidandruff shampoo, the smelly spray of skunks, and glass. Credit: Compound Interest. CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Click to enlarge The Selenium Sweet-Spot Being that selenium is an essential trace element, our bodies don’t need much of it. But they do need some, which we receive from our diets. Amounts that are too high or too low can lead to health problems. Too much selenium can cause effects like nausea, diarrhea, and skin rashes. Extremely high amounts can lead to more severe effects like difficulty breathing, heart attack, and kidney and heart failure. People who don’t get enough selenium can develop a specific type of heart disease or arthritis, and men with selenium deficiency can develop infertility. Scientists have found some links between selenium deficiency and cancer, heart disease, and cognitive decline, as well as thyroid disease. But they need mor...
Source: Biomedical Beat Blog - National Institute of General Medical Sciences - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacology Molecular Structures Cellular Processes Proteins Source Type: blogs