NANOSELENIUM AND SELENIUM: ROLE IN THE BODY AND APPLICATION IN MEDICAL PRACTICE

Summary. Excess or insufficient number of separate chemical elements and their compounds lead to various pathological states, that is potentiated by the importance of the antioxidants in human cells. That is why in recent years increased attention of scientists to selenium ? a trace element, that has antioxidant, radioprotective properties, strengthens the immune system, slows the aging process. Scientific observations have found that selenium is an essential trace mineral, its deficiency associated with 75 different nosologic forms, that shorten life. Such cases have been described in the United States, Finland, New Zealand, China, Russia and Ukraine.The essential trace mineral, selenium, is of fundamental importance to human health. Selenium is an impotant component of at least 25 selenoproteins and enzymes containing selenocysteine. As a constituent of selenoproteins, selenium has structural and enzymic roles, in the latter context being best-known as an antioxidant and catalyst for the production of active thyroid hormone. Selenium is needed for the proper functioning of the immune system, and appears to be a key nutrient in counteracting the development of virulence and inhibiting HIV progression. It is required for sperm motility and may reduce the risk of miscarriage. Deficiency has been linked to adverse mood states. Findings have been equivocal in linking selenium to cardiovascular disease risk. Selenium compounds are toxic to human cells in excessive amounts. Nanoselenium is a potential source of selenium, which has low toxicity.