Selenium

Vital protection for the early stages of pregnancy - from fertility through to week 12 and beyond, Selenium strengthens against pathogens, illness and infection.

Selenium NRV:

The NRV recommends 55mcg of Selenium per day, Her.9 contains 70ug, 164% of your NRV for the day (this amounts to 300g of Cashews)

 

Major Functions:

  • Reproduction
  • Thyroid hormone metabolism
  • DNA synthesis
  • Cellular protection from oxidative damage
  • Selenium also supports the body’s natural defences against pathogens, illness, and infection

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Benefits:

Selenium, a natural antioxidant, is an important part of prenatal nutrition due to the maternal immune system in being more vulnerable to external threats and attacks.

Supplementation has been shown in some studies to decrease TPO antibody levels and the risk of abnormal thyroid function after pregnancy.

Selenium provides vital protection for the early stages of pregnancy (from fertility through to week 12 and beyond). Deficiencies of the antioxidant can lead to gestational complications, miscarriages, and the damaging of the nervous and immune systems of the foetus. A low concentration of selenium in blood serum in the early stage of pregnancy has been proved to be a predictor of low birth weight of a new-born.

 

Food Sources:

  • Brazil nuts
  • Fish
  • Eggs
  • Sunflower seeds
  • Cashew nuts

                 

                References:
                • Cardoso, B. R., Apolinário, D., da Silva Bandeira, V., Busse, A. L., Magaldi, R. M., Jacob-Filho, W., & Cozzolino, S. M. F. (2016). Effects of Brazil nut consumption on selenium status and cognitive performance in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled pilot trial. European journal of nutrition, 55(1), 107-116.
                • Berr, C., Arnaud, J., & Akbaraly, T. N. (2012). Selenium and cognitive impairment: A brief‐review based on results from the EVA study. Biofactors, 38(2), 139-144.
                • Santos, J. R., Gois, A. M., Mendonça, D. M., & Freire, M. A. (2014). Nutritional status, oxidative stress and dementia: the role of selenium in Alzheimer's disease. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 6, 206.
                • Slawinska, K., Bielecka, G., Iwaniak, K., Wosko, S., & Poleszak, E. (2017). Selenium and manganese in depression–preclinical and clinical studies. Current Issues in Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, 30(3), 151-155.
                • Pieczyńska, J. & Grajeta, H. (2015). The role of selenium in human conception and pregnancy. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 29, 31–38. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0946672X14001345.