Question

In large doses, selenium is toxic. However, in moderate intake, selenium is a physiologically important element. How is selenium physiologically important?

Short answer

Selenium plays a critical role in the functioning of metabolism and thyroid and also helps to protect your body from the damage caused by oxidative stress.

Step-by-step solution

Define Elements

An element is a pure material made up entirely of atoms with the same number of protons in their nuclei, as defined by chemistry. Chemical elements, unlike chemical compounds, cannot be broken down into smaller substances by chemical reactions.

Explaining how selenium is physiologically important?

Medicalstudies are done that have shown an inverse relationship between the incidence of cancer and the Selenium levels in the soil.

The foods that are grown in these soils and eventually digested are assumed to somehow helps in the protection from cancer.

Selenium is a nutrient that the human body needs to stay healthy.

Selenium is also involved in activity of vitamin E and few enzymes in human body.

Selenium is important for reproduction, thyroid gland function, DNA production, and protecting the body from the damage that is caused by free radicals and from infection.

In addition, selenium deficiency also is connected to the occurrence of congestive heart failure.

Therefore, Selenium plays a critical role in functioning of metabolism and thyroid and also helps protecting body from damage caused by oxidative stress.