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The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

Elements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally occurring, and only a few of them are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.
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The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements

OverviewElements are the smallest units of matter that cannot be broken down further by chemical processes. There are 118 known elements, but not all of these are naturally-occurring, and fewer still are essential for life. Living matter is composed primarily of carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen, with smaller amounts of other elements like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur. Other elements are also necessary for life but only in trace amounts.The Periodic Table Provides Information...

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Updated: May 24, 2026

Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Based Developmental Toxicity Assays for Chemical Safety Screening and Systems Biology Data Generation

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Published on: June 17, 2015

Selenium and human health.

Margaret P Rayman¹

¹Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK. m.rayman@surrey.ac.uk

Lancet (London, England)

|March 3, 2012

Summary

Selenium is vital for health, impacting immunity, reproduction, and thyroid function. However, supplementation may harm those with adequate selenium levels, highlighting a U-shaped health benefit.

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Human Health
Nutritional Science

Background:

Selenium is integral to selenoproteins, influencing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and thyroid hormone production.
Recent discoveries link selenoprotein gene polymorphisms to diseases, underscoring selenium's health significance.
Low selenium status is associated with increased mortality, impaired immunity, and cognitive decline.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the pleiotropic effects of selenium and its role in various health outcomes.
To examine the association between selenium status and risks of chronic diseases, including cancer and diabetes.
To elucidate the U-shaped relationship between selenium status and health benefits or adverse effects.

Main Methods:

Literature review of studies on selenium's biochemical functions.

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Analysis of epidemiological data linking selenium status to disease risk.

Evaluation of clinical trial findings on selenium supplementation.

Main Results:

Adequate selenium status is crucial for immune function, reproduction, and thyroid health, with potential antiviral effects.
Higher selenium status may reduce the risk of certain cancers, but trial results are mixed.
Selenium supplementation in individuals with adequate intake may increase the risk of type-2 diabetes.

Conclusions:

Selenium's health effects exhibit a U-shaped dose-response curve, emphasizing status over supplementation.
Individuals with adequate or high selenium levels should avoid supplementation due to potential adverse effects.
Maintaining optimal selenium status is key, with supplementation only beneficial for those with documented deficiency.