Selenium

What is selenium?

Selenium is also a trace element present in the body, but nevertheless essential. For its antioxidant role, it is widely used as a food supplement, often in combination with vitamins A, C and E, with which it acts in synergy.

What is its function and what are its benefits?

The best known role of selenium is its antioxidant role. It allows to fight against free radicals, especially by participating in the metabolism of glutathione peroxidase (an enzyme whose role is to protect cell membranes from attacks by free radicals). For this antioxidant role, selenium acts in synergy mainly with vitamin E, but also with vitamins C and beta-carotene (provitamin A).

It has an action on the protection of the skin, as well as on the quality of the vision.

It also contributes to the maintenance of the immune system, and acts as a detoxifier for the body.

Finally, it would play a role in male fertility, by promoting spermatogenesis.

Where to find it?

Selenium is found mainly in nuts, meat, offal, seafood, fish, whole grains, certain fruits and vegetables (tomatoes, pears, oranges, cooked leeks, cooked turnips, cooked onions, cruciferous vegetables, etc.).

Note that vegetable sources are good sources of selenium only if they come from regions with rich soil. The same is true of animal sources, whose content is directly related to the animals' diet.

Deficiency and excess

Cases of excess selenium are very rare, as it can become a pro-oxidant only in extreme cases of oversupply.

Deficiencies can be found in certain categories of the population, such as the elderly, people with intestinal absorption problems (celiac disease, Crohn's disease, etc.), vegetarians, smokers, alcoholics, athletes, people living in regions with selenium-poor soil, etc.