Cebu City - What are the benefits of selenium in the body? Is it healthy? Can it bring harmful effects to the body?

Selenium is a crucial component of several enzymes and proteins known as selenoproteins that assist in the production of DNA and defend against cellular deterioration and infections.

According to Harvard, “selenium is promoted to offer several benefits, including boosting immune function, improving hair and nail health, and supporting a healthy thyroid. They are sometimes combined with other antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin E or C.”

However, there is no proof that consuming more selenium promotes the health advantages listed on these supplement labels if a person is not at significant risk for a deficiency.

There are also consequences when an individual is deficient in this trace mineral. Selenium deficiency may cause Keshan disease, a type of cardiomyopathy, or disease of heart muscle, and Kashin-Beck disease, a form of osteoarthritis. The amount of selenium in foods depends on the selenium content on where the food was grown, and this vary between regions.

Animal protein foods are typically excellent sources of selenium. The foods with the highest levels of selenium are seafood, organ meats, and Brazil nuts, but the majority gets their selenium from common meals such as breads, cereals, chicken, red meat, and eggs.

Also, it is important to consider that consuming too much of this specific trace mineral can lead to toxicity. The symptoms range from muscle tremors, hair loss, stomach upset, and light headedness, to more severe outcomes of heart attack, respiratory distress, or kidney failure. So, moderation is the key. //PDO I Noah Vincent D. Gallo, RND, MSPH

Source:
https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/selenium/#:~:text=Selenium%20supplements%20are%20promoted%20to,as%20vitamin%20E%20or%20C.