Selenium is an element that forms part of an important body enzyme (substances essential for body metabolism), which has an antioxidant action in preventing, for example, breakdown of fats (lipids) to substances that can be damaging to the body. The enzyme probably takes care of what other antioxidants like vitamin E have failed to do because they were not present in sufficient amounts.

Selenium deficiency has been observed in patients receiving all their nutrition via the veins (parenteral nutrition), but with selenium-poor solutions.'Keshan disease', a disease of heart muscle affecting children, is a selenium-deficiency disease seen in a selenium poor area of North-Eastern China.

SELENIUM INTAKE

Recommended daily dietary intake of selenium (Australia):
Infants: Children: Adult men: Adult women: Pregnancy: Lactation:	10-15 micrograms 25-85 micrograms 85 micrograms 70 micrograms 80 micrograms 85 micrograms

 

FIGURE 56: SELENIUM CONTENT OF SOME FOODS

FOOD	SELENIUM CONTENT   (micrograms per 100 grams of food)
Seafood Organ meats Muscle meats Cereals Dairy products Fruits Vegetables Brown sugar White sugar	100 20 20 20 6 1 1 1 0.3

	Elements
	-	Sodium
	-	Potassium
	-	Calcium
	-	Magnesium
	-	Iron
	-	Phosporus
	-	Sulphur
	-	Chlorine
	-	Copper
	-	Zinc
	-	Iodine
	-	Fluorine
	-	Chromium
	-	Manganese
		Selenium
	-	Cobalt
	-	Molybdenum
	-	Nickel
	-	Tin
	-	Silicon
	-	Vanadium
	-	Cadmium

Also on this page:

-  Selenium intake
-  Figure 56: Selenium
   content of some food