Health Tooty Fruity

Selenium is a trace mineral that is essential in tiny amounts, but is toxic in larger amounts. The chemical symbol for selenium is Se. Some geographic areas have selenium in the soil and others are deficient. Plants do not appear to need selenium for survival. If selenium is present in soil, plants will take up the selenium.

Selenium is used in the body in antioxidant enzymes, by the immune system, and in conjunction with iodine to control metabolism. Approximately 30 percent of tissue selenium is found in the liver, 15 percent in kidneys, 30 percent in muscle, and 10 percent in blood plasma, as seen in Figure 13-2.

Figure 13-2 Where selenium is found in the body.

Selenium