Contents
😉 Welcome new and regular readers! What is the role of selenium in the human body? In this article, briefly about its functions, about the symptoms of its excess or deficiency in the body. Related videos.
What is selenium
Selenium is a chemical element, in the periodic table its number 34, denoted by the symbol Se (lat. Selenium), is necessary for the proper production of thyroid hormones and the work of the organ itself.
A deficiency of this element has also been shown to increase the risk of thyroid disease (including Hashimoto’s disease, hypothyroidism, and neutral inertia).
Selenium supplements are used when thyroid disease has already developed. Some studies show that it helps to reduce the concentration of antibodies (characteristic of Hashimoto’s disease).
Selenium affects the proper functioning of the immune system, as it is involved in the formation of macrophages and lymphocytes. And its deficiency is increasingly associated with the occurrence of certain types of oncology, inflammatory or degenerative diseases.
Selenium deficiency in the body
Symptoms:
- depression;
- eczema;
- premature aging of the body;
- high probability of cancer;
- fatigue;
- muscle pain and weakness;
- deterioration of vision;
- disruption of the liver and pancreas;
- increased blood cholesterol levels;
- growth retardation in children;
- hair loss.
Excess selenium in the body
The difference between the required dose and the toxic dose is small. In addition, research shows that excessive supplementation may increase the risk of type II diabetes. Typical symptoms of excess or selenium poisoning are:
- nausea and vomiting;
- fragility of nails;
- erythema of the skin;
- garlic odor from the skin and mouth;
- unstable mental state;
- deterioration of the liver;
- bronchopneumonia;
- diarrhea.
Consumption
Studies have shown that Russians belong to the group of people with a low level and consumption of this element (about 30-40 μg / day). The demand for selenium is 55 mcg for adults. It increases during pregnancy (60 mcg) and lactation (70 mcg).
Selenium-containing foods
- meat products;
- Fish and seafood;
- milk and dairy products;
- yeast;
- cereals;
- garlic;
- Dry legume seeds (e.g. beans, chickpeas, lentils)
- mushrooms;
- nuts;
- corn.
However, it should be remembered that the selenium content in plants depends on its content in the soil on which they grow. It is difficult to determine the content of an element in a particular food product. Its assimilation from food is higher in the presence of protein (methionine), vitamins A, E, C and other antioxidant compounds.
Selenium can also be taken as a dietary supplement. As its content in supplements often differs from the amount stated on the packaging (due to the lack of appropriate control bodies).
You need to choose supplements from trusted manufacturers who study their preparations not only in terms of the selenium content in the pill, but also in terms of its effectiveness.
Video
In this video, additional information on our topic ↓
Dear readers, I hope this information helped you understand the role of selenium in the human body. 😉 Always be healthy!