| About
Selenium |
|
| What
Is Selenium? |
| Selenium
(Se) is a trace
mineral that is
required by the human
body and is of
fundamental importance
in ensuring good
health. Selenium was
discovered in 1817 by
Jons Berzelius and
takes its name from
the Greek word Selene
(the goddess of the
moon). Until recently,
selenium was a
little-known trace
mineral. International
research on Selenium
has established that
it is an essential
component of the human
diet in the sustaining
of good health and
general well-being
because of its
protective and
preservative
characteristics. It
has also been found
that selenium
deficiency may lead to
increased
susceptibility to
disease and ill
health. |
| Organic
And Inorganic
Selenium Explained |
| Selenium
exists in two chemical
forms in nature,
Organic Selenium and
Inorganic Selenium.
Inorganic Selenium can
be found in different
minerals in the form
of selenite, selenate
and selenide as well
as in metallic form.
In contrast, in
vegetable feed Organic
Selenium is an
integral part of amino
acids. Therefore, in
nature animals receive
selenium mainly in the
organic form. Research
had shown that Organic
Selenium is far more
beneficial for us as
our body absorbs and
retain Organic
Selenium at a better
rate. |
| Organic
Selenium vs Inorganic
Selenium |
| Organic
Selenium |
Inorganic
Selenium |
- Exists in
the form of
seleno-amino
acids, i.e.
selenomethionine.
|
- Exists in
the form of
mineral salt.
|
- Is
actively
absorbed by
amino acid
routes.
|
- Is
passively
absorbed from
the small
intestine.
|
- More
Organic
Selenium is
retained by
our bodies.
|
- Most of
the unused
Inorganic
Selenium in
our bodies is
excreted.
|
- Our
tissues store
Organic
Selenium and
hold it in
reserve for
times of
greatest need,
such as during
times of
stress.
|
- Only a
small amount
of Inorganic
Selenium finds
its way into
body protein.
|
- Organic
Selenium is
retained by
our body in
useful form.
|
- Inorganic
Selenium is
poorly
retained.
|
|
| Why
Does Our Body Need
Selenium? |
| Selenium
is a component of
several antioxidant
proteins such as
glutathione
peroxidase, superoxide
dismutase and
catalase. Antioxidants
neutralize the toxic
by-products of oxygen
metabolism. These
by-products are known
as free radicals which
can cause damage to
cellular components
including DNA.
Antioxidants are
essential to human
health as it helps
protect against
environmental
carcinogens and
cardiovascular
disease, protects our
skin from solar ray
damages and may be
important in fighting
the effects of
Alzheimer’s and other
age-related illnesses. |
| Glutathione
Peroxidase
(GSH-Px):
Each molecule of
gluthathione peroxide
contains four atoms of
selenium. Thus
selenium is a key
component of the
body's defence against
the degenerative
effects of age and
exposure to toxic free
radicals. |
| Superoxide
Dismutase:
An enzyme that
destroys the
superoxide radical |
| Catalase:
An enzyme that
produces Vitamin E, a
general antioxidant. |
| |
| Why
Does Our Diet Lack
Selenium? |
The
selenium content in
food is becoming a
health issue as the
average levels of
selenium in our diets
have fallen and is
well below the amounts
recommended for
optimum health.
The lower availability
of selenium in our
diets can be
attributed to low soil
selenium levels or low
selenium absorption in
crops that are
cultivated in acidic
and poorly aerated
land. Faster growing
crop varieties and
less root development
reduces the
opportunity for such
crops to accumulate
selenium from the
soil. Also, increased
crop density and yield
has lead to minerals
in agricultural land
to diminish faster. |
| |
| Why
Add Selenium To
Eggs? |
| As eggs
are a regularly
consumed item in our
diets, they would be
an ideal food source
of Selenium for our
bodies. Although
Selenium is not
readily absorbed into
eggs, the American
company Alltech
Biotechnology has
developed a special
feed which can
increase the level of
Selenium in broilers
and layers, and
consequently the eggs.
This feed had the
approval of the US
Food and Drug
Administration body
(FDA). As the
recommended daily
amount (RDA) of
Selenium intake for
our diets in estimated
to be 75ug by
nutritionists, the
consumption of two
NutriPlus Enriched
with Organic Selenium
eggs a day, which
contains 22 micrograms
of Selenium per egg,
will be sufficient. |
| |
| Benefits
Of Selenium |
 Cancer
prevention |
Selenium,
a trace mineral
essential in ensuring
good health, has also
been found to be an
effective weapon
against cancer.
The human body is made
up of trillions of
cells. These cells are
supposed to multiply
in orderly manner to
replace old and
worn-out cells with
new cells. But the
human body also
produces free radicals
to generate energy and
destroy bacteria.
Daily exposure to
pollution sources such
as exhaust fumes,
cigarette smoke as
well as solar rays
causes the body to
produce excessive free
radicals.
This can lead to
damage to the cell and
the DNA within it,
causing the cell to
multiply
uncontrollably, thus
triggering the
development of
cancerous cells.
Free radicals also
suppress the body's
natural immune system,
reducing the body's
ability to detect
defective cells before
they develop into
tumours.
The level of free
radicals in our body
can be controlled and
maintained by
antioxidants.
Antioxidants inhibit
the oxidation process
in the cell caused by
free radicals, thus
reducing oxidation
damage to our cells.
Selenium is an
excellent antioxidant
and an essential
component of
glutathione peroxidase
(GSH-Px), which
neutralises toxic
peroxide produced
during normal
metabolism. |
 |
A:
Antioxidants
protect the
cell against
damage by free
radicals, and
the cell's
vital parts
remain
unharmed. |
| B:
The cell
membrane is
attacked and
oxidised by
free radicals,
causing the
cell to be
weakened. |
|
Glutathione
peroxidase, along with
selenium, is crucial
for the body in its
fight against cancer.
However, the level of
gluthathione
peroxidase is reduced
with advancing age as
well as by consuming
drugs, alcohol and
high-fat/low-fibre
diet.
Selenium works more
effectively in
combination with other
antioxidants like
vitamin E. Vitamin E,
taken with selenium
enhances Selenium's
anti-tumour and
antioxidant
properties.
The selenium-cancer
reduction link was
first discovered in
the late 1960's.
Quoting Dr Margaret
Rayman of the
University of Surrey
(UK): "Hundreds of
studies have been
conducted to
investigate the effect
of selenium on cancer
prevention during
recent years. The vast
majority of the
studies have shown
highly positive
effects of selenium on
various types of
cancer in humans."
Dr. Larry Clark, from
the Arizona Cancer
Centre, found from his
studies that selenium
supplements reduced
the risk of lung
cancer by 46%, colon
cancer by 58%, and
prostate cancer by
63%, with an overall
reduction of 37% in
all types of cancers.
It also showed a 50%
reduction in cancer
mortality. |
| Immune
System |
| Selenium
supplements, it is
able to protect
against oxidative
damages to the RNA
virol genome. Selenium
also plays a key role
in the functioning of
the immune system as
it increases the
number of
interleukin-2 (IL-2)
receptors on the
surface T-cells.
T-cells do the actual
killing of invading
pathogens. IL-2 is a
hormone like substance
that stimulates
T-cells to proliferate
and function. Recent
studies on viruses by
Beck and co-workers
have shown that in a
body with selenium
deficiency, harmless
viruses can become
virulent. But with
selenium supplements,
it is able to protect
against this
development of
virulence, which is
believed to be the
result of oxidative
damages to the RNA
virol genome. |
| Fertility |
| Selenium
is essential for male
fertility, as it is
required for
testosterone
biosynthesis and for
the normal development
of spermatozoa. Recent
studies with sperm
have revealed two
sperm specific
selenoproteins. One of
it is glutathione
peroxidase which is
specific to the sperm
nuclei, and the other
is found in the
mid-piece where it is
believed to have an
enzymatic and
structural function.
It is found that
immobility in a sperm
is frequently a result
of “snaps” in the
mid-piece region. |
 |
| Brain |
| Selenium
plays an important
role in the
manufacture of a brain
chemical known as a
neurotransmitter and a
low level of selenium
is linked with an
increased risk of
dementia and senility.
According to studies
done, loss of brain
function was found to
be two folds faster in
those above 65 with
selenium deficiency in
their diet. Other
cognitive degeneration
afflictions associated
with Selenium
deficiency include
Parkinson's and
Alzheimer's diseases.
Studies done by
University of Wroclaw,
Poland have found that
supplementing
Alzheimer’s patients
with selenium everyday
slowed the progression
of the disease. |
| Cataracts |
| Selenium
may help to protect
the eye against free
radical damage, which
is a root cause of
cataracts.
|
| Arthritis |
| In
addition to being an
antioxidant, selenium
is also an
anti-inflammatory
agent. Selenium can
help fight the free
radicals that promote
inflammation and
degrade cartilage and
collagen in joints.
Surveys of patients
with rheumatoid
arthritis have
indicated that they
have reduced selenium
levels in their blood. |
| Mood |
| Depression
and irritability could
be caused by selenium
deficiency in our
diet. Margaret Rayman
of the Center for
Nutrition and Food
Safety at the
University of Surrey,
UK reported in The
Lancet 2000 that there
are a number of
studies indicating
beneficial effect of
selenium on mood. Low
selenium was
associated with
increased levels of
depression, anxiety,
confusion and
hostility. While high
dietary selenium or
supplementation with
selenium appears to
improve mood. |
| Aging |
| Selenium
as an antioxidant may
slow down the aging
process. Aging is a
process of bodily wear
and tear that occurs
throughout a lifetime.
One well-respected
theory defines aging
as the result of
healthy cells being
damaged by free
radicals. Our body
generates free radical
quenchers
(antioxidants) to
stabilize the free
radicals. However, if
our bodies do not
produce enough
antioxidants to stanch
free radical damage,
the damage accumulates
and fast forward the
aging and disease. |
| |
| Recommended
Selenium Intake |
| For males
and females above the
age of 19, the
recommended dietary
allowance is 70
micrograms and 55
micrograms
respectively. The
requirements may be
increased to 65
micrograms for
pregnant females and
75 micrograms for
lactating females. |
| Infants |
|
| 6
months |
10
ug |
| 6
to 12 months |
15
ug |
| Children |
|
| 1
to 6 years |
20
ug |
| 7
to 10 years |
30
ug |
| Adult
Males |
|
| 11
to 14 years |
40
ug |
| 15
to 18 years |
50
ug |
| 19+
years |
70
ug |
| Adult
Females |
|
| 11
to 14 years |
45
ug |
| 15
to 18 years |
50
ug |
| 19+
years |
55
ug |
| Pregnant
Females |
65
ug |
| Lactating
Females |
75
ug |
|
*Source:
Recommended Dietary
Allowances, National
Academy of Sciences.
(ug = micrograms)
|
