What are the benefits of selenium for children and how much should be consumed?
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Selenium, with its antioxidant properties, is a cofactor in regulating enzymes and helps maintain the body’s health. Selenium is a trace element that can be effective in preventing and treating many health disorders. Selenium deficiency in the body can be compensated by consuming food sources containing selenium as well as buying and consuming selenium tablets. We have dedicated this article to the benefits of selenium for children so that you become more familiar with the necessity of consuming this mineral.
What is Selenium?
Selenium is a mineral found in soil, water and some foods and is involved in many important processes in the body. The amount of selenium in the food you eat depends on where the food grows. In simpler terms, the amount of selenium in the soils of different regions varies. So people who live in places where selenium levels are low are more likely to be selenium deficient.
Selenium has strong antioxidant properties and helps strengthen the immune system. According to the results of many researches, this element can be used in the prevention and treatment of many diseases, including cancers, liver diseases, asthma, diabetes, postoperative swelling, psoriasis, hypothyroidism, blood infections, osteoarthritis, eye diseases, hair loss and … Be effective. To learn more about the benefits of selenium, you can click on the link provided.
Properties of selenium for children
Research has shown that selenium deficiency in pregnant women may lead to preterm labor, slow fetal growth, and affect fetal hypertrophy and hypoxia. Also, the storage of selenium in the milk of mothers whose babies are born prematurely may be less than others, and as a result, the element selenium is not provided enough for the baby. Among the properties of selenium for children are the following:
- Strengthen the immune system and reduce the incidence of various diseases
- Prevention of hypothyroidism in children
- Reduce the risk of various types of cancer
- Reduce the symptoms of asthma
- Help better hair growth and prevent hair loss
- Help maintain heart health
- Protection of skin tissues
You should also know that mothers who are selenium deficient are more likely to have an abortion; Therefore, selenium deficiency should be taken seriously.
Dosage of selenium for children
By reading the table below, you can get acquainted with the recommended daily amount of selenium mineral in children:
age category | Recommended Daily Dose (RDA) |
Infants (from birth to 6 months) | 15 micrograms |
Infants (7 months to 1 year old) | 20 micrograms |
Children (1 to 3 years) | 20 micrograms |
Children (4 to 8 years) | 30 micrograms |
Children (9 to 13 years old) | 40 micrograms |
Adolescents (14 to 18 years old) | 55 micrograms |
Note that selenium is measured in micrograms (mcg). In the following table you can see the maximum amount of selenium allowed per day:
age category | Maximum allowable daily intake |
Infants (from birth to 6 months) | 45 micrograms |
Infants (7 months to 1 year old) | 60 micrograms |
Children (1 to 3 years) | 90 micrograms |
Children (4 to 8 years) | 150 micrograms |
Children (9 to 13 years old) | 280 micrograms |
Adolescents (14 to 18 years old) | 400 micrograms |
Breast milk, formula and infant formula should be the only source of selenium for infants, and dietary supplements should never be used without consulting a specialist.
The best food sources of selenium
Get acquainted (gain, obtain) with present-day techniques that came from Selenium for Children. The amount of selenium in vegetables and grains depends entirely on the soil in which they are grown. Adding the following nutrients to your baby’s diet can be very effective in preventing selenium deficiency:
Foodstuff | The amount of selenium per 100 grams |
Wheat germ | 106.6 micrograms |
Brazil nuts | 96 micrograms |
Whole wheat bread | 63 micrograms |
Oatmeal | 53.3 micrograms |
Brown rice | 36.6 micrograms |
Orange juice | 18.3 micrograms |
Selenium is also found in other foods such as tuna, sardines, shrimp, steak, chicken, eggs, milk, lentils, spinach, bananas and more.
Selenium syrup for children
If for any reason your child is deficient in selenium in your body, you can use supplements containing this mineral for him in consultation with your doctor. Here are some of the most popular selenium syrups that can be used by children:
The above syrups are formulated in combination with other vitamins and minerals and can be very effective in strengthening the immune system. For children who are able to take the pill, selenium plus tablets or selenium capsules can be used to supply selenium through dietary supplements. These products contain the element selenium as the main ingredient, along with other nutrients such as zinc, vitamin E and..
Complications of selenium overdose in children
Selenium, with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, can even be used to prevent coronary heart disease. But you should be careful not to overuse selenium in children in order to boost the body’s immune system. Here are some of the most important side effects of selenium overdose:
- skin itching
- Diarrhea
- Weakening of nail strength
- hair loss
- Discoloration of teeth
- nausea
- Vomit
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Fatigue
- The smell of garlic on the breath
The final word
Selenium can have unparalleled benefits for children as well as adults. This mineral is very effective in strengthening the immune system and its deficiency can be associated with thyroid dysfunction, hair loss, fatigue and many diseases. The amount of selenium consumption in children is different from adults, so you must pay attention to the dose so that excessive accumulation of this element in the body does not cause toxicity and side effects. If you want to know the price of selenium tablets in different brands, Green Positive Online Pharmacy will be an ideal reference for you.
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