Blog — Selenium

Heavy metal exposure can have detrimental effects on a child's development and overall health. However, with the advent of Heavy Metals Testing Kits, parents now have a convenient and accurate method to assess heavy metal levels in their children's bodies. These testing kits utilize dried blood spots and dried urine spots, offering a comprehensive solution to evaluate exposure to a range of toxic heavy metals. In this article, we will explore the benefits of heavy metals testing for children, focusing on the 14 essential elements tested through the Heavy Metals Testing (Comprehensive Toxic and Essential Elements) Profile. Detection of Toxic...

By Theodore Zava, ZRT Laboratory It seems like there is an endless loop of stories these days about new viruses and the spread of disease. There is no doubt that as the human population increases and the space between us decreases, we will only experience more of these events in the future. While the world waits on new vaccines, one solution to slowing or preventing the spread of viruses may be something as simple as adequate selenium nutrition. How Selenium Protects Against Viral Infections and Mutations Adequate selenium nutrition should be considered as a defense against viral infectious diseases. Selenium...

By Dr Kate Placzek, ZRT Laboratory Influenced by our environment, we are constantly being exposed to elements, whether nutritional or toxic. They are a big contribution to the yin yang dualism of health and disease.  With heavy metals, contamination is so extensive nowadays that it is no longer a question of whether exposure took place, but rather what the level of exposure was or continues to be. Toxicity from low levels of exposure can lead to a wide array of neurological disturbances and can be much more insidious in presentation than acute toxicity, which is, in contrast, rather obvious in...

By Theodore Zava, ZRT Laboratory. Selenium is a trace essential element that is incorporated into selenoproteins. There are at least 25 known selenoproteins in the human body, their primary roles being antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and thyroid deiodinases that convert thyroxine (T4) to active thyroid hormone (T3). Deficiencies in selenium can be detrimental to health, while selenium excess can be just as dangerous. Brazil nuts are commonly used as a form of selenium supplementation, but it isn’t commonly known that the level of selenium in Brazil nuts is highly variable.   Why Are Brazil Nuts High in Selenium?...

While optimal selenium levels are imperative for proper thyroid function, abnormally high selenium intake can be toxic – causing gastrointestinal disturbances, changes in nails and hair, weakness, convulsions and decreased cognitive function. So it’s important to understand the ways in which we take in selenium, both in the diet and as supplements. A balance of nutrients is required by our bodies to maintain good health, and selenium (Se) is an important one that often gets overlooked. This essential element is a required component of the selenoproteins, which include those that are needed to convert thyroid hormone from the inactive to the active form, and...