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NutriPlus with Organic Selenium
In The News
Part 3 - Evidence Selenium is Vital for Good Health
(The Sun / HealthyLiving / Tuesday, Dec 25, 2001)
The following information is compiled from a presentation by Dr.
Peter Surai - Professor at Asian Science Research Centre, Scotland,
based on his research on evidence that Selenium is vital for good
health". Dr. Surai, who has over 25 years of research experience in
antioxidants, delivered this presentation in Malaysia to educate the
public on the health benefits of Selenium courtesy of Lay Hong
Berhad, one of Malaysia's biggest egg producers.
In his presentation, the learned professor put utmost stress on the
fact that antioxidants were an essential component of the human diet
for their numerous protective benefits, and quoted a Professor
Parker who in 1995 had said that antioxidants were "vital to good
health". Dr. Surai also numerous clinical studies carried out had
positively shown that deficiencies in antioxidant intake were
positively correlated to the development of some diseases.
The professor also commented on the modern diet, saying that
basically our diet today contained far to little Omega-3 and
betacarotenes and an excess of saturated fat. Antioxidant
protection, said Dr. Surai, was essential in prohibiting the damage
caused by excess free radicals. Although our bodies produced free
radicals as an unavoidable by process of oxygen intake, an excess of
free radicals was the result of modern day pollution, high levels of
stress, and even solar rays.
Dr. Surai then drew attention to Organic Selenium, which he said had
received much attention from nutritionists, and which was believed
to be the "Nutrient Of The New Millennium". Selenium, he said, was
first discovered in 1818 by a Swedish researcher. 100 years later,
another researcher proclaimed Selenium to be toxic. In 1950,
research showed that Selenium was vital to good health in trace
amounts, and was only toxic in very large doses. In 1976, it was
discovered that no less than 30 different proteins contain Selenium
as an active part of the molecule.
The Professor said that today, Selenium deficiency was a problem
over all continents, mainly due to low soil selenium levels
preventing it from reaching the food chain. He further pointed out
that in 1974, the daily intake of Selenium derived through dietary
means in the United Kingdom was about 60mg, but that had dropped by
half to about 30mg in 1995. Interestingly, studies during this
period has also shown a marked increase in heart disease and cancer
occurrence, and some scientists believe that Selenium deficiency is
the cause. In another interesting study in the United States,
localities with the lowest soil Selenium levels had the highest
incidences of breast cancer.
Dr. Surai said that Selenium was important as an antioxidant, as a
catalyst for other antioxidants such as Vitamin E to work, and
essential for thyroid and reproduction function and a strong immune
system. Interestingly enough, a Selenium deficiency can also affect
the mood of a person, and studies have shown that a cheerful outlook
is positively correlated to sufficient Selenium in our diet.
There are many different types of Selenoproteins in our body and
they are important in regulating different body processes. Also,
there seems to be an excellent synergy between Selenium and Vitamin
E in the antioxidant process - Selenium protects the cell on the
inside, while Vitamin E protects the cell on the outside.
..........................................................................................
"Evidence Selenium Is Vital For good Health" will be continued in
Part 4 next week.
