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Vitamin Guide > Vitamins > Selenium
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Selenium |
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Selenium Definition |
Selenium is a micromineral that is required to be present in daily diet though in very small amounts only.
It is indirectly responsible for constant body's supply of Vitamin E, Vitamin C and Glutathione.
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Benefits of Selenium |
Selenium is required for protecting cells from free radical damage, to help lower joint inflammation and enable thyroid to produce thyroid hormone.
Selenium also plays a role in prevention and / or treatment of stomach cancer, Parkinson's disease, HIV/AIDS, Asthma, Multiple sclerosis, Keshan's disease (involves heart arrhythmias and loss of heart tissue), Kashin-Beck's disease (deterioration of the joint tissue), Esophageal cancer, Acne, Ovarian cysts, male infertility, Psoriasis, Rheumatoid arthritis, SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), Colorectal cancer, Periodontal disease, Senile cataracts and Cervical dysplasia.
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Sources of Selenium |
Crimini mushrooms, Cod fish, Shrimp, yellowfin Tuna, Salmon, button mushrooms are excellent sources of Selenium.
Other very good sources of selenium include chicken's eggs, mustard seeds, sunflower seeds, lamb, barley, turkey and oats.
More good sources of selenium are Roasted Chicken breast, Spinach, raw Tofu, Garlic, Brown rice, and Mozzarella cheese.
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Deficiency of Selenium |
Symptoms of Selenium deficiency are difficult to determine. On prolonged deficiency, the affected areas are the heart and the joints.
With regards to the heart, the deficiency results in Keshan disease, which entails heart arrhythmias and loss of heart tissue.
With regards to the joints, the deficiency results in Kashin-Beck's disease, which involves deterioration of the joint tissue.
It may also result in Myxedematous Endemic Cretinism, which results in mental retardation.
Severe selenium deficiency when accompanied by severe overall malnutrition, results in weakness or pain in the muscles, discoloration of the hair or skin and Whitening of the fingernail beds
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Excess of Selenium |
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Overdose or excess of Selenium may cause nausea, abnormalities in the fingernails beds, brittle nails, skin lesions, reversible balding, vomiting and hair loss, give a garlic odor to the breath, weakness and slowed mental functioning.
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