Selenium Benefits and Facts - Learn What is Selenium Used For?
Benefits and Uses
Selenium is found in every tissue in the body, and mostly in the spleen, kidneys, testes and liver. It is well known that people do not consume enough selenium. Selenium content in the soil is vastly depleted in many areas of the United States.
Selenium is a unique mineral due to its potent antioxidant and anticancer capabilities. One of the body’s main antioxidants is glutathione. Selenium helps to activate this enzyme, which protects cells from oxidative stress. Animal studies indicate that selenium deficiency boosts cancer rates in animals. Other studies suggest that a high intake of selenium can help protect against certain types of cancers. There are numerous studies that show that selenium intake is tied to cancer rates in humans.
Studies on those who have cancer have shown that cancer patients have low levels of selenium in their blood. Many studies tie high levels of selenium with low incidence of cancer rates. Many ongoing studies use only 200 mcg in their experiments; however, this is likely to be too low to assess the anticancer ability of this mineral.
Selenium may also play a role in heart disease. Alcoholics who have cirrhosis of the liver, as well as others who suffer from selenium deficiency, may also suffer from heart difficulties that can respond to supplementing with selenium.
Recommended Daily Intake and Sources
The Recommended Daily Intake of selenium is 70 mcg. The best sources of selenium appear to be meats, seafood and organ meats. Selenium content in food depends on whether the soil of the plants the animals consume has adequate levels of selenium. Cooking and refining foods destroys much of the selenium content. Vitamin C is known to help the body absorb selenium.
Toxicity
Selenium toxicity in animals is well documented. However, for humans, selenium consumption must be very high to result in toxicity. Studies have shown that taking up to 500 to 750 mcg every day did not produce toxicity. In fact, some experts say that humans may experience toxic effects of selenium only after consuming 3000 mcg daily. Some evidence suggests that birth defects may result from ingesting such levels.
References
Lieberman, Shari, The Real Vitamin & Mineral Book
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