What is selenium ? All about this trace element

Selenium is a trace element essential to the body. This bioelement intervenes in the body through many metabolic reactions. It is a powerful antioxidant that is able to detoxify the body of heavy metals and preserve the heart. Selenium intake, however, must be highly controlled because of its potential toxicity.

Characteristics of Selenium:

Anti-oxidant trace element essential to the body
Mostly found in seafood
Supports immune and cardiovascular systems
Selenium deficiency can lead to serious heart failure or death
In excess, selenium is toxic and causes selenosis

Why consume foods rich in selenium?

Selenium: health benefits and roles in the body

Antioxidant

Selenium is one of the molecules with antioxidant power. It enters, indeed, in the composition of several enzymes charged to neutralize the free radicals in excess and thus the oxidation in the organism. In addition, selenium participates in the regeneration of vitamins themselves antioxidants (vitamins C and E). As a result, a good intake of selenium makes it possible to fight against oxidative stress and against premature cellular aging.

Detoxifies the body of heavy metals

Selenium is known for its depurative properties. It cleans the body of toxic and foreign molecules including heavy metals such as mercury or lead.

Heart Health

Selenium deficiency can cause severe cardiomyopathies that can lead to death. This trace element intervenes, indeed, in the regulation of the cardiac rhythm and participates in the prevention of the diseases of the heart.

Selenium, Beauty of Hair and Skin

This trace element has a beneficial role on the quality of the integuments (hair, nails) and the skin. Yeasts and supplements based on selenium are also known to promote the brightness of the skin and the strength of the hair.

20 foods rich in selenium

Selenium is found in significant quantities in seafood, organ meats, meat and oilseeds. A balanced diet must cover the needs of the body in this trace element.

Foods	Servings	(μg)
Dehydrated Brazil nuts	1/4 cup (60 mL)	681 μg
Pacific Oysters, Raw or Steamed	100 g (2 to 4 means)	77-154 μg
Canned tuna	100 g	60-80 μg
Offal of turkey or chicken, braised	100 g	58-60 μg
Swordfish or plaice, baked or grilled	100 g	58-61 μg
Atlantic herring, pickled	100 g	59 μg
Atlantic sardines, canned	100 g	53 μg
Mixed nuts, including peanuts, roasted	1/4 cup (60 mL)	51 μg
Canned clams	100 g (13 medium)	49 μg
Cooked pork chops	100 g	48 μg
Tuna, halibut, cod, redfish, haddock, salmon, baked or grilled	100 g	40-47 μg
Dried shiitake mushrooms	10 mushrooms (36 g)	46 μg
Crab or lobster, boiled or boiled	100 g	32-45 μg
Salmon, baked or preserved	100 g	38-43 μg
Raw or cooked shrimps	100 g	38-40 μg
Lamb, shoulder, braised	100 g	31 μg
Beef	100 g	27 μg
Duck	100 g	22 μg
Regular ham (11% fat), roasted	100 g	20 μg
Poached egg	1 big	17 μg

How to use selenium properly?

Use of selenium

Daily Needs

	Recommended Dietary Allowance (ANC)
Babies 0-6 months	15 μg *
Babies 7-12 months	20 μg *
Children 1-18 years old	1 μg per kilo
Men 19-50 years old	70 μg
Women 19-50 years old	70 μg
Men 50 and over	80 μg
Women 50 and over	80 μg
Pregnant women	80 μg
Nursing women	80 μg

* Sufficient contributions

Food supplements based on selenium

They are often indicated to remove heavy metal residues in the body, to maintain the heart system or to preserve the beauty of the hair and skin. Selenium supplementation can also help fight oxidative stress and strengthen the immune system. The dosage varies according to the problem and the context. Ask your doctor for advice and do not exceed 150 micrograms per day without medical check-ups.

Use of selenium and zinc rich yeast

Brewer’s yeast, in powder or capsule form, is a concentrate of B vitamins, selenium and zinc. It can be helpful in meeting the needs of the body and keeping skin and hair healthy.

Undesirable effects of selenium

Is selenium dangerous in excess?

At very high doses selenium is responsible for selenosis. This excess of intake results in intense fatigue, hair loss and extreme dryness of the skin. People suffering from selenosis have a characteristic breath (smell of garlic) and suffer from digestive problems (nausea, bloating, etc.). In France, the competent authorities recommend not to consume more than 150 micrograms of selenium per day.

Consequence of selenium deficiency

Selenium deficiency can result in decreased immune defenses, cardiac arrhythmias or anemia. It may, to a lesser extent, induce thyroid disturbances, intense fatigue and generalized weakness. In the most severe cases, and in the absence of supplementation, she may be responsible for Keshan’s disease. It is a heart disease due to selenium deficiency and can lead to death.

Interactions with other nutrients

Excess dietary fiber tends to prevent proper assimilation of selenium. The same goes for phosphorus and heavy metals such as mercury.

On the contrary, zinc and selenium have a synergistic action in the body. A good intake of these two nutrients makes it possible to benefit from an optimal antioxidant effect.

Chemical Properties of Selenium

The selenium symbol is Se, its atomic number is 34. This trace element has an atomic mass of 78.971 u and a density of 4.79 g.cm-3. This is a non-gray metal. Selenium shares many chemical properties with sulfur. Indispensable in small quantities, this bioelement can be very toxic for the body when it is consumed in excess.

Selenium disulfide is a salt composed of sulfur and selenium. Its crude formula is SeS2 and its molar mass is 143.09 g / mol. It is an excellent antimycotic and antifungal used therapeutically to treat fungal infections and certain other skin conditions.

Nutrient History

Selenium is well studied for its many interventions in metabolic reactions. Currently, numerous studies are underway to establish the potential beneficial effects of selenium in the prevention of certain cancers (prostate, digestive, etc.). These studies are particularly delicate because of the high toxicity of selenium at doses easily attainable by a drug supplementation.