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How to determine the amount of selenium in the human body

Dear friends!

This article is focused on selenium(Se), a chemical element located in the 6-th group of the  periodic table under the number 34.

Selenium is an essential non-metal trace element, an analogue of sulfur.

This trace element was discovered in 1817 by Jöns Jacob Berzelius. It got its name from “Selenium“ a Greek word which stands for "moon".

This trace element is naturally included in sulfur and copper compounds.  Its pure form was derived trough processing of copper ores.

Selenium is also contained by heavy metal selenides, such as lead, mercury, silver, nickel, etc. common for hydrothermal environment, i.e. thermal springs, volcanic activity, etc.

Selenium is used in industry for producing conductors, colored glass and dishes, paints as well as in steelmaking, etc.

In our everyday life we come upon selenium in some cosmetic products such as soap, shampoo, cream, etc.

Selenium gets into the human body mainly with products of animal and plant origin and water. The amount of selenium in the human body is directly related to the area of residence and the quality of the food produced there.

There are some areas in the world with the pronounced violations of the normal environmental level of this trace element. For example a sharp lack of  selenium is common for some provinces of China, New Zealand, Buryatia and the Chita region in Russia. The exceeded level of this element, which reaches its toxic point, is common for some parts of Tuva, Yakutia, the Arctic and some regions of the Southern Urals, etc.

Besides the diet, the lack of selenium in the body can be caused by physiological makers and consequences of liver disorders, intoxications, intestinal dysbiosis, etc.

Selenium gets adsorbed through the small intestine, duodenum and intestine. The degree of absorption depends on its final form which comes in 2 types, i.e. selenocysteine or selenomethionine.

Speaking of functions of this trace element in the human body, we should highlight its major role in ensuring immunity, protecting the cytoplasmic cell membranes from genetic changes, ensuring normal cell developing and avoiding chromosome damage.

Also, selenium has a great impact on male reproductive function and directly affects the sperm motility.

When heavy metals gets into  the body, selenium plays a role of their antagonist, preventing their accumulation, simultaneously acting as a radioprotector.

The main functions of selenium are the following:

1) Antioxidant properties;

2) Immunomodulation and antitumor protection of cells;

3) Anti- viral and anti-bacteria activity in the body;

4) Anti-inflammatory and anti-stress defence mechanisms, etc.

Selenium is clinically used in the cases of  inflammatory and infectious lesions, cancer, cardiac dysfunctions, psoriasis, treating burns and for protection from radiation.

 Speaking of the lack of selenium, the most cases of this phenomenon are determined by endemic diseases conditioned by the region of residence as well as by intestinal diseases and poor nutrition, lacking seafood.

If we take a closer look at , for instance, the North-West of Russia, the statistics would reveal that almost every indigene of the region is prone to the interrelated lack of  iodine - selenium - cobalt. It exactly an  example of the endemic effect of the habitat on the bioelemental status of its inhabitants.

 The lack of selenium is a dangerous pathology causing the irreversible effect on cellular integrity and thyroid function, increased accumulation of heavy metals and vulnerability to negative effect of such metals, etc.

It is especially important to notice the correlation between the lack of selenium and  a reproductive function both male and female since it might mean the impairment fertility for a woman and the low viability of sperm for a man.

The low levels of selenium in the body manifests itself thorough the following symptoms:

1) The low antitumor immune function;

2) Diseases of the skin, hair, nails;

3) The igh risk of inflammatory diseases;

4) Cardiomyopathy;

5) Atherosclerosis;

6) Liver disorders;

7) Cataract;

8) Infertility;

9) Developmental delay;

10) Problems with fetation;

11) High risk of cot death, etc.

Considering the toxic properties of selenium, we should keep in mind  that an exceeded level of selenium is also bad for health causing excretion of highly toxic selenium dimethyl, which smells of garlic.

People engaged at  selenium-related industry, miners, employees of electronics and paint and coatings industries are at the biggest risk of selenium intoxication.

The above is also true of people living in hyperselenium areas.

The exceeded level of selenium manifests itself through the following clinical symptoms:

1) Damaged skin and hair;

2) Damaged nails and teeth;

3) Arthritis and nervous disorders.

The acute selenium intoxication manifests itself through  nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, irritability, garlic breath, hair loss, etc.

Considering the interaction of selenium with other trace elements, it is important to keep in mind the ratio of selenium and sulfur due to their interchangeability which might lead to imbalance effecting all trace elements in the body.

 Selenium facilitates excretion of  mercury, cadmium and arsenic from the body and it is able to withstand the radiation effect. The lack of selenium allows the above-mentioned pathogenic trace elements to  accumulate actively in the body, carrying their irreversible impact.

It is especially important to monitor selenium in the body during pregnancy since its lack can cause intrauterine mercury intoxication and lead to damage to the seleno-proteins of brain and thyroid gland of a fetus.

The special consideration should be give to selenium-containing drugs used as a part of anti-tumor therapy and their positive clinical performance.     

Analyzing the requests made by the consumers regarding this element, we have detected the following variations:

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• how to determine the limit of selenium for a child and an adult, etc.

Answering the question of “how to replete selenium in the body?” it is worth considering nutritional supplements and healthcare products containing this trace element as well as including garlic, sea fish, lard, pistachios, porcini mushrooms, coconut and eggs into the diet.

 As for the question of  “how to determine the amount of selenium in the human body?”, there are a number of methods aimed at providing such information.

There is one more method besides the analyses of blood serum aimed at determining the content of selenium in the body currently available. We are talking about  the advanced method of studying the inorganic samples (hair, nails, bones, etc.) with coupled plasma mass spectrometry. This method is capable of providing you with a complete picture of distribution of 33 vital and toxic elements in the human body.  Besides the  data on selenium, the research report  will also include the information on 32 other trace elements providing  a complete picture of elemental status of a customer.

The demand for such type of research was conditioned  by the lack of methods capable of determining a number of toxic and vital trace elements in the human body. This method was especially elaborated for people exposed to health risks, such as firefighters, emergency responders, etc.

    Toxic trace elements get systematically accumulated in the tissues, organs, bones and other body structures, therefore it is impossible to detect their exact presence through studies of the organic samples such as urine, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, saliva, etc.

It also applies to the detection of the vital trace elements when their exact quantity needs to be determined in order to build an overall picture of the bioelemental status qua the aggregate of vital and toxic elements.

    That is exactly why the unique laboratory of elemental analysis aimed at detecting and monitoring the presence of toxic trace elements in the human body of was launched within the Clinic of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in 2007. The service was initially meant for employees of the huge structure accountable to the Ministry of Emergency Situations.

    The spectral analysis (you can learn more about the method by clicking this link http://www.mineralogram.com/bioelementnyystatus.html) is a unique method which provides the most  accurate information both on vital and toxic trace elements, present in a human body, which makes it possible to study the wide range of indicators instead of focusing on a certain single chemical element.

You can look into an example of the study done through the method of the spectral analysis by clicking this link.

It is a matter of great importance, since the trace elements constitute a single system and the lack of some elements causes the accumulation of the others, which results in replacement of the certain elements with the other once.

    As you might see, our project is fully devoted to the spectral analysis and its principle with regard to health control. We will gladly assist you at every step of this study, elucidate the obtained results and, if necessary, advise you on how to restore the elemental status of your body.

Our experts will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the method of spectral analysis!

The uniqueness of this method makes it possible to study samples sent from any part of the world as a usual letter. It is a truly unique tool of the health control.

Remember that the systematic control over the vital sighs it is the major step on the way to well-being and longevity.

We would like to thank you for your kind attention!

Yours faithfully, 33 Elementa.Ru