Rich In Selenium, Brazil Nuts Can Boost A Woman's Fertility

Selenium - found in nuts, red meat and seafood - could be crucial in the development of healthy ovarian follicles, which are responsible for the production of eggs in women, research found

Scientists found that selenium, a natural antioxidant, plays a crucial role in the early stages of conception - and of all foods, Brazil nuts have the highest level.

Selenium is crucial in the development of healthy ovarian follicles, which are responsible for the production of eggs in women.

Selenium, a natural antioxidant, plays a key role in conception, the element is crucial to the development of healthy ovarian follicles which are responsible for the production of eggs in women. Eggs yielding a baby had twice the amount of selenium-containing protein. Experts said their findings could help treat women with infertility problems.

Melanie Ceko, from the University of Adelaide, who carried out the research, said: 'Selenium is an essential trace element found in protein-rich foods like red meat, seafood and nuts.'

'It is important for many biological functions, such as immune response, thyroid hormone production, and acts as an antioxidant, helping to detoxify damaging chemicals in the body. We've known for some time that selenium is important to men's fertility, but until now no one has researched how this element could be involved in healthy reproduction in women.'

As part of the study, researchers pinpointed exactly where selenium was located in the ovary. Then, they turned their attention to a protein containing selenium, called GPX1.

They found that levels of selenium and proteins containing selenium were higher in large, healthy ovarian follicles, where eggs are produced.

Ms Ceko said: 'We suspect they play a critical role as an antioxidant during the late stages of follicle development, helping to lead to a healthy environment for the egg.'

In some cases, eggs that yielded a pregnancy had double the levels of GPX1, she added.

Researchers hope their findings will help treat women with infertility problems.

Further research could be carried out to better understand how selenium levels could be optimized to improve women's chances of conceiving, they said.