Does selenium strengthen the immune system?

Table of Contents:

1. does selenium strengthen the immune system?

2. where is selenium stored?

3. the daily requirement of selenium

4. can too much selenium do harm?

5. conclusion

2. where is selenium stored?

Selenium is absorbed in the upper small intestine. This is where most of the selenium absorption takes place. In the process, selenium enters the blood to supply the tissues and is used in the liver to build proteins. These are secreted into the bloodstream and the trace element is further transported to the brain, kidney and tissues. There is about 60% of selenium in the blood plasma. It is always important to know that half of the selenium is bound to protein. The total amount of selenium in an adult person is about 10 - 20 mg. This is found in tissues and organs. The distribution is very uneven. The highest concentration of selenium is found in the thyroid gland, the brain, the pancreas, the heart and the spleen.

3. the daily requirement of selenium

Men need more selenium than women. According to the German Nutrition Society (DGE), an adult man should take in 70 micrograms of selenium a day. For women it is 60 micrograms. Breastfeeding mothers have a higher requirement in order to supply their child with sufficient selenium through their breast milk. Here the recommended amount is 75 micrograms of selenium. Children under the age of 10 should take about 30 micrograms of selenium a day. For children between 10 and 15 years of age, the daily requirement is already 50 micrograms of selenium. However, these recommended values do not apply to people with an increased selenium requirement due to illness. In general, one should keep in mind that age, weight and size always play a significant role.

4. Can too much selenium do harm?

Too much selenium in the diet cannot harm the organism. Excessive amounts of selenium are excreted through the urinary tract. An excess is caused by an increased intake of selenium in the form of dietary supplements or by a selenium infusion. This can lead to severe consequences. These include neurological disorders, joint pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. However, these side effects do not occur in the context of a normal dose.

5. does selenium strengthen the immune system?

Selenium performs numerous tasks in the body. The trace element strengthens the immune system by protecting the body from free radicals and filtering out toxins. Through a daily diet, selenium should be consumed on a daily basis. In case of selenium deficiency, supplementation of selenium in the form of dietary supplements can be very useful.

Further reading:

• The Epidemiology of Selenium and Human Cancer.
• Selenium in the environment, metabolism and involvement in body functions
• Collecting review: use of Selenium in therapy and prevention of muscular diseases in animals].
• 50 years of the ETA: "the selenium connection".