Selenium

Description

Selenium

A Swedish scientist Jons J. Berzelius discovered selenium in 1817, but selenium was not recognized as an essential nutrient until 1957. Selenium is an essential trace mineral, which has several important biochemical roles in the body. Selenium’s chemical, physical and biological characteristics are similar to the element sulfur. Selenium is required for the proper activity of certain proteins and antioxidant enzymes and is absolutely needed for the production of the amino acid selenocysteine. Because the body cannot manufacture selenium, it must be acquired from dietary sources. Selenium has numerous biological roles in the body. It functions synergistically with dietary antioxidants particularly vitamin E. Selenium also works synergistically with other minerals particularly zinc. Selenium and zinc have important roles in protecting the body against heavy metal toxicity from mercury, cadmium, lead and arsenic.

Selenium is one of Dr. Hans Nieper’s formulas that supports the following systems:

1. Cardiovascular System
2. Lymphatic System
3. Hormonal System
4. Immune System