Selenium (Symbol Se, Greek selene moon-A nonmetallic element which resebles sulfur in appearance. Selenium is an essential mineral. It is required as a cofactor for the enzyme glutathione peroxidase and is associated with vitamin E and its functions. Selenium can also be made into topical (on the skin only) preparations and had anfifungal properties.

RDA of selenium

There isn't yet an accurate RDA of selenium. However, the typical diet contains 50-100 micrograms of selenium. A rick source of selenium is fish, which contains more than 300 micrograms in each kg of meat. Cereals also contain significant amounts (>100 micrograms per kg)

Deficiency of selenium

Selenium deficiency has been seen in malnourished children in some countries, resulting in cardiomyopathy (pathologies or disease of the muscle portion of the heart). Skeletal myopathies have also been reported with selenium deficiency. As we've read above, selenium is a component of glutathione peroxidase, which similar to vitamin E, protects membrane lipids against peroxide damage.

Toxicity of selenium

Plants growing in soils with high amounts of selenium can concentrate this selenium through their root systems, thus, causing high amounts of selenium to be concentrated into the plant. Grazing animals feedking on these plants can suffer from selenium poisoning, exhibiting signs such as malformed hooves, and hair loss.