Selenium

What is selenium?

Selenium (Se) is also known as 'selen', which is mineral that protects cell membrane in the body together with vitamin E, and the strong oxidant, representative mineral.

As an important component of oxidation effect that protects cells against free radical generated by normal oxygen metabolic fixation, selenium is essential nutrient for normal functions of immune system and thyroid gland.

Selenium has been known as ‘Blue Wizard’ since 1957 when Dr. Schwarz of the National Cancer Institute (NIH) successfully proved its anti- cancer effects.

Effect of selenium

1. Oxidation effect

As a component of an oxidant effect (glutathione peroxidase), selenium protects cell membrane against the damage caused by oxidation.

2. Inflammatory disease improvement

Selenium reduces the inflammation mediator called NF-KB and active oxygen (ROS) generated by the inflammatory response of chronic disease, performing the role of immune system activating system.

3. Strengthen immunity to enhance resistance to disease.

4. Strengthened hypogonad

Much amount of selenium supplied to the body is concentrated in testicles and prostate gland, so that men would maintain healthy reproductive function with higher probability of fertilization.

5. Prevention of cardiovascular disease 

Selenium dependant effects reduce the lipoperoxidation and lessens the risk of cardiovascular disease, by making influence on the metabolism of signaling molecule known as prostaglandin.

Related Articles

1. Selenium in the maintenance and therapy of HIV-infected patients. (Schrauzer GN1, Sacher J. Chem Biol Interact. 1994 Jun;91(2-3):199-205. )

: Selenium supplementations prevent HIV-virus replication and development.

2. Role of selenium in male reproduction-A review. (Ahsan U1, Kamran Z2, Raza I1, Ahmad S1, Babar W1, Riaz MH1, Iqbal Z3. Anim Reprod Sci. 2014 Jan 31. )

: It is essential to take sufficient amount of selenium in order to maintain male reproduction and avoid infertility.

3. Selenium supplementation protects trophoblast cells from mitochondrial oxidative stress. (Khera A1, Vanderlelie JJ, Perkins AV. Placenta. 2013 Jul;34(7):594-8.)

: The role of selenium supplementation is to protect trophoblast cells from oxidative stress during pregnancy.

4. Selenium and topiramate attenuates blood oxidative toxicity in patients with epilepsy: a clinical pilot study. (Yrekli VA1, Nazıroğlu M. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2013 May;152(2):180-6. )

: Selenium and topiramate(TPM) eliminate active oxygen to attenuate toxicity in patients with epilepsy and intractable oxidative damage.

5. The impact of GPX1 on the association of groundwater selenium and depression: a Project FRONTIER study. (Johnson LA1, Phillips JA, Mauer C, Edwards M. BMC Psychiatry. 2013 Jan 4;13:7.)

: Selenium has the effect on depression and its improvement.