Selenium-health: Productive and reproductive traits of farm animals

Abstract

This study is a review of a previous research on the effects of selenium on health, productive and reproductive traits of farm animals. The interest for research on selenium has originated from the knowledge that this nutrient has a distinctive antioxidant role in cells, thus preventing tissue damages mediated by free radicals. By performing different biological activities in the organism, selenium becomes an essential element for preserving health and improving productive and reproductive characteristics. It has a very important role in the functions of immune system, so that during deficiency its feed supplementation in suitable quantities results in improving immune response. A supplemented level of selenium into feeds of farm animals can provide adequate basal concentrations necessary for the protection both against oxidative activities of free radicals created during physiological processes and external harmful factors.

U ovom radu dat je pregled dosadašnjih istraživanja uticaja selena na zdravlje, proizvodne i reproduktivne karakteristike farmskih životinja. Interesovanja za izučavanje selena proizašla su iz saznanja da ovaj nutricijent ima izraženu antioksidativnu ulogu u ćelijama, čime sprečava tkivna oštećenja posredovana slobodnim radikalima. Selen je esencijalni element za očuvanje zdravlja, poboljšanje proizvodnih i reproduktivnih karakteristika, ostvarivanjem različitih bioloških aktivnosti u organizmu. Selen, takođe, ima veoma značajnu ulogu u funkcijama imunološkog sistema tako da njegovo dodavanje u hranu u odgovarajućim količinama kod deficita rezultira u poboljšanju imunološkog odgovora. Dodati nivoi selena u hranu za životinje obezbeđuju adekvatne bazalne koncentracije neophodne za odbranu od oksidativnih delovanja slobodnih radikala nastalih u toku fizioloških procesa i spoljnih štetnih faktora.