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Selenium in biology. Selenocysteine is the main organic molecule involving selenium in humans. Selenium is an essential micronutrient for animals, though it is toxic in large doses. In plants, it sometimes occurs in toxic amounts as forage, e.g. locoweed. Selenium is a component of the amino acids selenocysteine and selenomethionine.
Selenium deficiency occurs when an organism lacks the required levels of selenium, a critical nutrient in many species.Deficiency, although relatively rare in healthy well-nourished individuals, [1] can have significant negative results, [2] affecting the health of the heart and the nervous system; contributing to depression, anxiety, and dementia; and interfering with reproduction and gestation.
Selenium is toxic in high concentrations. As sodium selenite, the chronic toxic dose for human beings was described as about 2.4 to 3 milligrams of selenium per day. [7] In 2000, the US Institute of Medicine set the adult Tolerable upper intake levels (UL) for selenium from all sources - food, drinking water and dietary supplements - at 400 μg/day. [8]
Sodium selenate is the inorganic compound with the formula Na. 2SeO. 4. It exists as the anhydrous salt, the heptahydrate, and the decahydrate. [ 1] These are white, water-soluble solids. The decahydrate is a common ingredient in multivitamins and livestock feed as a source of selenium. The anhydrous salt is used in the production of some glass.
Nutrient. A nutrient is a substance used by an organism to survive, grow and reproduce. The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi and protists. Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excreted by cells to create non-cellular structures such as hair, scales, feathers, or exoskeletons.
Electrolyte imbalance. Diagram of ion concentrations and charge across a semi-permeable cellular membrane. Electrolyte imbalance, or water-electrolyte imbalance, is an abnormality in the concentration of electrolytes in the body. Electrolytes play a vital role in maintaining homeostasis in the body. They help to regulate heart and neurological ...
Selenium is a chemical element; it has the symbol Se and atomic number 34. It has various physical appearances, including a brick-red powder, a vitreous black solid, and a grey metallic-looking form. It seldom occurs in this elemental state or as pure ore compounds in Earth's crust.
Selenium yeast. Selenium yeast is a feed additive for livestock, used to increase the selenium content in their fodder. It is a form of selenium currently approved for human consumption in the EU and Britain. [1] Inorganic forms of selenium are used in feeds (namely sodium selenate and sodium selenite, which appear to work in roughly the same ...