Selenium

Selenium is a trace mineral that is essential to good health but required only in small amounts. Selenium is incorporated into proteins to make selenoproteins, which are important antioxidant enzymes.

What is Selenium?

Selenium is an essential trace element used in the proteins of many living organisms. The varied use of selenium in different organisms can be used to study evolution. The versatility of selenium also allows it to be used in medical research and treatment.

Sources of Selenium

Selenium Biologic Applications

Selenium Non-Biologic Uses

Selenium Controversial Health Effects

Selenium Toxicity

Selenium Deficiency

Selenium History

Selenium Production

Latest Selenium News and Research

Maternal exposure to metals rewires infants’ gut and resistance genes

Prenatal exposure to trace elements like selenium, copper, and arsenic can significantly alter the infant gut microbiome, metabolism, and antibiotic resistance gene patterns. These changes appear as early as three months and evolve during the first year of life.

5 Jun 2025

Ultrasonic cigarettes may pose significant health risks, study shows

A study by scientists at the University of California, Riverside shows ultrasonic cigarettes, or u-cigarettes, marketed as a less harmful alternative to traditional e-cigarettes, may pose significant health risks due to the presence of harmful metals in their liquids and aerosols.

28 May 2025

Is a vegan diet the right choice for your child?

A new scoping review analyzes current evidence on vegan diets in children, examining health outcomes, growth, and nutritional adequacy. The findings show that well-planned vegan diets can support normal growth, but highlight crucial gaps and the need for ongoing clinical and research guidance.

26 May 2025

Higher maternal selenium linked to lower streptococcal infection risk in children

Higher maternal selenium levels during pregnancy were associated with a lower risk of streptococcal infections in children, suggesting a potential protective effect.

19 May 2025

What makes H5N1 a pandemic risk and how can we stop it?

A new PEARLS article in PLoS Pathogens reviews the rapid evolution and pandemic potential of emerging influenza A viruses, with a focus on H5N1. It highlights scientific advances and future strategies to outpace the virus, from next-generation vaccines to AI-driven antiviral discovery.

19 May 2025

Vegetarians may need to watch thyroid health, especially with low iodine intake

Vegetarians had a modestly higher risk of developing hypothyroidism compared to high meat-eaters, but only after adjusting for BMI. No increased risk was seen for vegans or pescatarians in incident cases, though pescatarians showed a slight increase in baseline prevalence.

11 May 2025

Can your diet slow skin aging? New review reveals what helps and what harms

Scientists reviewed recent studies and found that antioxidant-rich diets help slow skin aging, while high intake of refined sugars and trans fats accelerates it. A balanced, nutrient-dense diet may be a practical way to protect skin health and delay visible signs of aging.

6 May 2025

Study shows how autism-linked picky eating causes serious vitamin deficiencies

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) face a high risk of multiple micronutrient deficiencies, especially vitamins A, D, B12, and calcium, due to extreme food selectivity. These deficiencies can lead to severe health issues like rickets, vision loss, and immune dysfunction, even in children with normal body weight.

13 Mar 2025

Children who eat fish are more prosocial, but does it impact intelligence?

Children who eat less seafood are significantly more likely to have lower prosocial behavior scores, but no link was found between seafood intake and IQ.

12 Mar 2025

Can red meat help women improve iron levels? New study suggests modest benefits

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 10 intervention studies found that increased red meat consumption improves hemoglobin levels in adults, particularly women, but requires ≥8 weeks to moderately boost ferritin, though clinical relevance remains uncertain compared to iron supplements.

12 Mar 2025

Seafood consumption linked to prosocial behavior in children

Children who consumed the least amounts of seafood at 7-years-old were likely to be less 'prosocial' at ages 7 and 9 years than those who regularly consumed seafood, according to a new study.

11 Mar 2025

Is red meat good or bad for you? Study explains how amino acids shape the answer

Researchers at Texas Tech University reviewed how red meat proteins and amino acids affect human health, weighing both benefits and risks. Their findings highlight that while red meat provides vital nutrients, overconsumption and poor preparation methods can increase disease risk.

10 Mar 2025

Study finds link between pregnancy mineral levels and lower blood pressure in midlife

Women with higher levels of essential minerals circulating in their blood during pregnancy, particularly copper and manganese, along with vitamin B12, had a lower risk of developing high blood pressure in middle age, about 20 years later, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention | Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health Scientific Sessions 2025.

6 Mar 2025

Study finds Pacific children struggling with micronutrient intake and obesity

Children ages two to eight years across 11 Pacific jurisdictions (Alaska, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawai'i, Marshall Islands, and Palau) are not meeting daily recommended intakes for key micronutrients, either consuming too much or too little.

6 Mar 2025