2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Selenium can prevent infections and cancer, but researchers warn of reduced intake levels in modern society.
Even if you follow a healthy and balanced diet, it can be difficult to get enough selenium due to climate change and soil nutrient depletion, especially in Europe. This showed a study conducted by Swiss scientists.
Selenium is very important for the immune system, but how much of it do we need to be optimal? protected against infections? There also seems to be link between widespread selenium deficiency and increased cancer rates.
The amount of selenium in our diet depends on how much mineral there is in the soil. However, farming methods and climate change can lead to an additional selenium loss of as much as 66% of the world's cultivated area. The problem seems to be affecting Europe in particular
The calculations are based on a larger number of soil samples, which were analyzed by scientists from the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Sciences and Technology. They suggest that selenium deficiency is becoming more prevalent and this has a negative effect on the various proteins and white blood cells of the immune system.
Selenium is important for immune protection
Selenoproteins function as enzymes that affect the various proteins and white blood cells of the immune system. First of all, selenoproteins are important for our non-specific (innate) immune defenses, which deal with most infections.
Second, selenoproteins are important for the specific (adaptive) immune system that develops after birth and that is able to specialize in producing antibodies and making us immunized.
Finally, several selenoproteins function as antioxidants that protect healthy cells from immune attacks.
As soon as we get an infection, the white blood cells in our nonspecific immune system absorb huge amounts of oxygen and convert it into free radicals. These free radicals serve as destructive missiles against invading microorganisms.
During the process, white blood cells take in a lot of selenium and vitamin C to help them carry out frontal attacks. In this way, this part of our immune system, which can be compared to assault troops, can fight a developing infection before we even know it.
However, free radicals are very aggressive molecules that can also cause chain reactions and cell damage unless they are harnessed. Therefore, we need protective antioxidantsto limit the detrimental effects of free radicals, and selenium, vitamin C and some other compounds play a role in this regard.
Selenium prevents the flu mutation, colds and herpes virus. The reason why so many of us are affected by recurrent infections (colds, flu and herpes) is that these types of viruses are so-called RNA viruses and mutate very well. The RNA virus may alter its appearance or antigens, thereby misleading the immune system and preventing it from developing immunity. Therefore, the immune system must be started from the beginning, especially if it is compromised, in the first place.
Here selenium fits into the picture.
Melinda A. Beck, a professor at the University of North Carolina, USA, revealed that mice with selenium deficiencyinfected with influenza A virus have an increased rate of RNA mutations. These mice also have problems fighting the flu compared to the mice they have a lot of selenium in the body. Influenza-infected mice lacking selenium developed a serious pulmonary complication due to influenza, while mice high in selenium suffered only mild symptoms.
Selenium is important in preventing mutations in influenza virus and other types of RNA viruses. It is no coincidence that new dangerous influenza strains often originate from selenium-depleted regions of China, Central Africa and Southeast Asia.
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