Reaction of Trivalent Organophosphorus Compounds with Selenium

Over the years, evidence has been accumulating [1, 2] that selenium is an essential nutrient in animals, preventing various serious deficiency diseases. On the other hand, no such firm proof for the need of selenium in human nutrition has been established, although several instances of beneficial effects as a result of selenium supplementation of human diet have been reported [3-5]. Although various hypotheses concerning the metabolic action of selenium have been proposed [2], no proof of these postulates has been obtained. It has been suggested that selenium-containing compounds may act as potent antioxidants [6] or as free radical scavangers [7] in vivo. Certain organo-selenium compounds have also been found to possess antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, hypnotic, analgesic, anesthetic, tranquilizing, anti-inflammatory, anti-histaminic, and, in a few cases, anti-cancer activity [8]. Since the discovery of the need for selenium in animal meta-