Selenium is Essential Nutrient

VANCOUVER - Jun 3/06 - SNS -- China's decision to get tough on selenium in field pea and other grain imports by suddenly enforcing 15 year old tolerances has come as a real surprise to the international trading community.

Ironically, selenium is an essential nutrient in human and livestock diets and plays an important role in preventing a wide range of diseases and sustaining the body's immune system. More importantly, large parts of China suffer from selenium deficiency.

It can lead to the potentially fatal Keshan disease and Kashin-Beck disease. The primary symptom of Keshan disease is myocardial necrosis, leading to weakening of the heart. Kashin-Beck disease results in atrophy, degeneration and necrosis of cartilage tissue. Keshan disease also makes the body more susceptible to illness caused by other nutritional, biochemical, or infectious diseases.

These diseases are most common in certain parts of China where the soil is extremely deficient in selenium. Studies in Jiangsu Province of China have indicated a reduction in the prevalence of these diseases by taking selenium supplements. Selenium deficiency has also been associated with goiter, cretinism and recurrent miscarriage in humans.

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