What is Selenium (Selenium)? Role of Selenium in Health

Selenium is still very strange to many people. Join Tnhelearning.edu.vn to learn what is Selenium? What is the role of Selenium in the human body in the article below.

What is Selenium (Selenium)?

Selenium (Se) aka Selenium. Selenium consists of more than 20 types of selenium protein , which helps in DNA synthesis and thyroid hormone metabolism. It is also an essential micronutrient for the body.

In chemistry, Selenium is a chemical element with atomic number 34 and chemical symbol Se , which is very rarely found as an element in nature.

Selenium (Selenium)

What does Selenium (Selenium) do?

For adults

According to the Health and Life newspaper, Selenium both helps restore antioxidants and has an antioxidant function, fighting against free radicals.

Thanks to its antioxidant capacity, Selenium reduces the risk of inflammatory, cardiovascular, and anti-aging diseases .

Selenium helps prevent cancers including breast cancer, bowel cancer, liver cancer and lung cancer, by its antioxidant properties and by boosting the immune system.

Selenium supports cancer drugs , helping drugs to work better during treatment.

For pregnant women

According to Health and Life newspaper, Selenium is necessary for fetal development . The amount of selenium needed for pregnant women is about 60 mcg per day.

Selenium helps protect the fetus from toxins in the mother’s body.

For children

Selenium is needed for iodine metabolism, prevention of goiter . Children with low levels of selenium in the blood are often at high risk of goiter.

In addition, Selenium has the effect of strengthening the immune system .

Children 0 to 6 months need 15 mcg per day, 7 to 12 months need 20 mcg, 1 to 3 year olds need 20 mcg, 4 to 8 year olds need 30 mcg, 10 to 18 need about 40 mcg to 55 mcg.

What foods is selenium present in?

Other foods high in selenium in order include: eggs, fish, liver, kidney, crab, lobster, meat.

Vegetables and fruits contain very little selenium.

For children, formula milk is the most complete source of selenium, because sometimes breast milk does not provide the necessary amount of selenium. Powdered milk is also the best source of selenium for adults.

Selenium deficiency and excess

Selenium Deficiency

• Children and women who are deficient in selenium are prone to cardiovascular diseases . In pregnant women can cause miscarriage.
• Low levels of selenium also cause goiter, weakened immune system.

Excess selenium

• The maximum daily dose of Selenium is 400 mcg . Taking more than 850 mcg per day leads to Selenium toxicity.
• Symptoms of mild poisoning include garlic breath, brittle nails, hair loss, skin rashes that do not cause itching. Acute poisoning can make the body fatigue, digestive disorders, vomiting.
• Severe selenium poisoning causes cirrhosis of the liver, which can even lead to death.

Notes to know when supplementing with selenium

Do not take Selenium supplements for people with diabetes . Because selenium causes diabetes to develop faster.

Supplement the right dose of Selenium required by age. Avoid excess of Selenium which leads to poisoning.

Selenium is recommended to be obtained through food, avoiding drugs . In addition to adequate selenium, milk also adds many other nutrients that the body needs.

Through this article, you already understand what Selenium is, right? Selenium is an essential substance for the process of antioxidant, preventing cancer, goiter, anti-aging. Formula milk is a complete source of selenium for children and adults.

Source: Health and Life

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