Selenium natural vegetation

The literature on the distribution of natural selenium in the soils, the absorption by vegetation, the toxicity of compounds of either natural or applied selenium to man and animals, and the use of selenium as a spray for insect control is voluminous and no attempt is made to cover it here. The literature has been well reviewed fairly recently ( ). Very little has been published on the increase in selenium content of apple peelings, due to the application of selenium-bearing sprays. 

Supplementation with the antioxidant vitamins ascorbic acid (250 mg) and mixed natural tocopherols (50 IU on alternate days) may be beneficial. Higher doses may vitiate the impact of lipid lowering therapy. Other naturally occurring antioxidants such as resveratrol, 3-catechin, selenium, and various carotenoids found in a variety of fruits and vegetables may provide additional antioxidant defense. Homocysteine, which initiates proatherogenic changes in endothelium, can be reduced in many patients by restriction of total protein intake to the amount required for amino acid replacement. Daily supplementation with up to 2 mg of folic acid plus other B vitamins is also recommended. 

Oster JD, Tracy JE, Meyer JL, et al. 1988a. Selenium in or near the southern coast range Well waters and vegetable crops. In Tanji KK, Valoppi L, Woodring RC, eds. Selenium contents in animal and human food crops grown in California. Cooperative Extension University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Publication 3330, 51-55. 

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