Selenium is a little nutrient that goes a long way. Although your body only requires a minuscule amount of this essential mineral, you wouldn't be healthy without it. Selenium's chief role in the body is to combat the harmful effects of oxidation. Selenium's benefits stemming from this function, however, are wide reaching and significant.
Background
Like calcium and magnesium selenium, is an essential mineral -- meaning that it must be obtained from the diet. In the body, dietary selenium is converted to a class of proteins known as selenoproteins. Selenoproteins are powerful antioxidants that seek and destroy free radicals -- harmful molecules that are formed as a byproduct of your body's metabolism.
Cancer
Cancer begins with a free radical attack on your cellular DNA. If the DNA damage isn't repaired, uncontrolled cell reproduction can occur -- resulting in cancerous cells. Selenium protects your cell's DNA from potentially cancer-causing free radicals. In research published in the February 2008 edition of the "Archives of Internal Medicine," it was discovered that low blood selenium levels were associated with a heightened risk of dying from cancer.
Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in adults living in the United States -- killing more than 600,000 people annually -- the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports. Free radical damage to your heart's arteries precedes the plaque formation that can ultimately cause a stroke or heart attack. Several studies have found that adequate selenium status and dietary intake protect against cardiovascular disease, according to the May 2003 edition of the "Medical Science Monitor." However, the paper adds that many studies have found that selenium supplementation has no effect on cardiovascular disease risk.
Warnings
Before taking selenium as a dietary supplement, check with your doctor to make sure that selenium is appropriate for you. Dietary sources of selenium include fatty fish, grains, seeds, nuts and shellfish. According to the University of Maryland Medical Centers, the daily intake required for selenium is 40 micrograms. Exceeding this amount may bring on side effects, including hair loss and stomach pain.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Leading Causes of Death
- University or Maryland Medical Center: Selenium
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Serum Selenium Levels and All-Cause, Cancer, and Cardiovascular Mortality Among U.S. Adults; J Bleys, et al.; February 2008
- "Medical Science Monitor"; The Controversy Surrounding Selenium and Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of the Evidence; EM Allisa, et al.; May 2003
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