The Importance of Selenium

Selenium has long been known as a mineral that is associated with a lower risk of cancer, especially bladder, prostate, and thyroid. It is an essential part of many proteins found in the body. A recent review paper by McCann and Ames from the Nutrition and Metabolism Center at children's Hospital in Oakland indicated that a moderate selenium deficiency may have several long-term detrimental effects (FASEB Journal, 2011, Vol. 25, pp 1793-1814), including heart disease, cancer, and immune dysfunction. A recent study published in Diabetes Care looking at data from two US cohorts found that those with the highest level of selenium in their toe nails had a 24% reduction in the risk of diabetes. Selenium is abundant in Brazil nuts. Otherwise, the selenium content in food varies greatly, depending on where it is grown.

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