PHD student Melanie Ceko, who made the discovery in a joint research project, said selenium has been known to have many health benefits, but it has never been linked to women's fertility.
"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," Ceko said.
Initial research conducted at the Australian Synchrotron pinpointed the exact place selenium is located in the ovary, then turned their attention to the selenoprotein known as GPX1.
"It was there that we noticed the element selenium plays an important role. GPX1 is quite heavily influenced by your dietary intake of selenium so if you weren't eating enough selenium in your food it's quite likely that your GPX1 levels would drop down," Ceko said.
"It could mean that follicle which would otherwise go on to release an egg is missing out on that essential protein formation that it needs there."
While selenium deficiency is not usually a problem in Western diets people who avoid certain food groups or eat food mainly grown on selenium-deficient soils are most at risk.
Ceko warns however that further research is needed to better understand how selenium levels can be optimised for women trying to conceive.
"Too much selenium can also be toxic, so it isn't just a case of taking multiple supplements," she said.
Written by Cathryn Kempe
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