Medically reviewed by Femi Aremu, PharmD Selenium supports thyroid function and may prevent conditions like hypothyroidism.Selenium may boost the immune system by increasing T-cells and natural killer ...

“Decades ago, when the original selenium functions were discovered, [the scientists] didn’t have a lot of genome sequences to work with,” said Chase Kayrouz, a graduate student in the Seyedsayamdost ...

Selenium is present in two forms - as selenomethionine in plant foods and selenocysteine in animal proteins. Selenium is necessary for the function of the thyroid gland and the development of DNA.

This is the primary mechanism by which selenium can help biological functions. There are at least 25 genes encoding for selenoproteins in humans, some of which are essential in development.

In my youth, I spent an unreasonable amount of time questioning why A-level chemistry was a prerequisite for medical school.

LARS JOHNSSON, Selenium uptake by plants as a function of soil type, organic matter content and pH, Plant and Soil, Vol. 133, No. 1 (May 1991), pp. 57-64 ...