If you smoke or take oral contraceptives, you might have low levels of selenium, which can affect your thyroid function and put you at a higher risk of developing some types of cancer. Selenium is a trace mineral needed in small amounts. Selenium is found in a variety of foods, including Brazil nuts, tuna, shrimp, brown rice, whole wheat bread, brewer's yeast and eggs. The amount of selenium in plant foods depends on how much selenium the soil contains in the region where the plants are grown. Consult your physician before supplementing your diet with selenium because high doses are toxic.
Production Of Selenoproteins
Selenium is incorporated into at least 25 different enzymes, called selenoproteins, which are crucial for a number of important reactions. Selenoproteins are involved in the regulation of thyroid hormones, which are responsible for normal growth and development. Selenoproteins also are an integral part of enzymes governing muscle metabolism, transportation of proteins, spermatogenesis, immune systems functions and the inflammatory process. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements, adult men require 55 mcg of selenium daily and adult women need 55 mcg to 70 mcg.
Works with Other Antioxidants
Selenoproteins are powerful antioxidants that work together with other antioxidants, including vitamins C and E. As antioxidants, selenoproteins help remove harmful free radicals, which are formed as byproducts of oxygen metabolism. Free radicals cause cellular damage that can increase your risk of developing cancer and heart disease; your arteries are especially sensitive to damage by free radicals. Along with copper, zinc and iron, selenoproteins support the action of vitamin E and can fill in if your vitamin E levels are low. Selenoproteins also assist in the regeneration of vitamin C.
Immune System Functions
Selenium appears to have a stimulatory effect on the immune system. Without enough selenium, your immune system might not function properly. You need selenium to produce white blood cells and antibodies, important lines of defense in fighting infection and disease. If you are deficient in selenium, it induces genetic changes within the virus, enhancing its effects and creating a more virulent strain. Oregon State University says selenium also regulates the action of signal molecules, called cytokines, which mediate your immune response.
Cancer Prevention
Selenium might help reduce the risk of developing some types of cancer, including cancer of the prostate and lung. There is a lower incidence of cancer in countries whose soil is rich in selenium. Although clinical studies are ongoing, a 1998 Harvard study following the development of prostate cancer in 33,737 men found a 65 percent lower incidence of advanced prostate cancer in men with higher selenium levels. However, there is not yet enough evidence to support taking selenium supplements to reduce your cancer risk; the best defense remains eating a well-balanced, low-fat, nutritious diet.
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