Selenium is a trace mineral present in a variety of foods (mostly vegetables). The amount of Selenium found in plants is directly related to how abundant is this mineral in the soil. There are two forms of selenium:

1. Inorganic salts - selenate and selenite - which needs to be converted by plants in organic molecules

2. Selenomethionine and selenocysteine, where Selenium is bound to organic molecules. 

Selenium deficiency is very rare, even in places where the soil is poor in Selenium, as we need only 50 micrograms daily. But there is one instance where lack of Selenium, combined with an  infection with a mutated strain of the Coxsackievirus, can lead to Keshan disease - congestive cardiomyopathy that used to be very common in Keshan county region in China, before a government sponsored selenium supplementation program in the 1970. You can measure your Selenium levels in blood, but you can also assess the long term exposure measuring selenium levels in hair or nails. 

Selenium body functions - It is needed in the human body as selenoprotein (containing an aminoacid called selenocysteine - identical with cysteine, but having Selenium instead of Sulphur). The selenoproteins are involved in cells protection from damage, antioxidants properties, thyroid hormones metabolism, DNA synthesis and reproduction. 

There are links between Selenium and decreased risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases, but they are not very conclusive. Average consume in UK is 29-39 micrograms per day. 

Cysteine is present in pork chops, beef, lean chicken breast, eggs and sunflower seeds. 

Glycine is present in turkey breast, beef sirloin, brazil nuts, sunflower seeds, swiss cheese. 

Next post will be about Zinc.

Yours truly, 

George

P.S. If you are Romanian, you can also publish your post in the Publish0x Romanian Community group for others to read it. 

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