I hear the words antioxidant and free radicals mentioned a lot, is selenium an antioxidant?
A. Yes, selenium is required for the production of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase, which exert a powerfully protective effect against cell damage by free radicals. Because selenium is essential for the formation of these enzymes, it is classed an antioxidant trace mineral. Oxygen which is essential to life also has a negative effect, this however can be well controlled by the body’s own enzyme systems and antioxidant substances found in our food. Just as oxygen causes iron to rust and butter to go rancid, it exerts a similar effect on the cells. The role of antioxidants is to stem this process, referred to as oxidation, which produces highly reactive particles called free radicals. Oxygen is not the only source of free radicals. Other sources include pollutants, such as smoke or smog, UV radiation, the ingestion of rancid fats and even infection where immune cells produce free radicals to fight unwanted microbes The aim is to keep free radicals
