I n retrospect, the history of selenium biochemistry does not differ greatly from the study of a number of other trace elements in that it occurred over many years, progressing from periods of little general interest to widespread concern regarding toxicity problems and eventually to recognition of selenium as an essential nutrient for many forms of life. My involvement in studies on selenium m...

This experiment evaluated the maximum tolerable level of inorganic Se fed to growing wether lambs for 1 yr. Sodium selenite was added to provide 0.2, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 ppm Se to a basal diet. Thirty-nine crossbred wether lambs initially weighing 50.2 ± 7.2 lb were randomly allotted to one of six treatments. Both serum and whole blood Se concentrations increased at each collection period as die...

Data on mercury and selenium interaction in the mammalian body are reviewed. Experimental data from studies on rats show that selenium interacts with mercury metabolism and toxicity after exposure to mercuric mercury. Autopsy data from workers exposed to mercury vapor indicate an association between mercury and selenium retention in the central nervous system, suggesting the formation of a merc...

The essential nature of selenium as well as its toxicity depend on the concentration and the chemical forms in which this element is present in environmental and biological samples. Dissolved inorganic selenium can be found in natural waters and soils as selenides, selenite and selenate. Organoselenium compounds that may be present in air, soils and plants are volatile methylselenides, trimethy...

Two well-known antioxidative nutrients, vitamin E and selenium, were used in this study to investigate possible inhibitory action against the formation of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) in rats. In this model, carcinogenesis is believed to be driven by oxidative stress. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (8 weeks old) were divided into four groups and received esophagoduodenal anastomosis (EDA) surgery ...

Selenium is considered an essential component of all living organisms. The use of yeasts as a selenium supplement in human nutrition has gained much interest over the last decade. The accumulation and biochemical transformation of selenium in yeast cells is particularly interesting to many researchers. In this article, we present the results of the determination of selenium and selenomethionine...

Effect of various doses and forms of selenium (organically bound vs. inorganic) on selected parameters of ruminal fluid and blood in sheep was evaluated. The trial was performed with 15 sheep divided into two groups. Animals from group A (n = 8) received a feeding mixture with selenomethionine, while sheep from group B (n = 7) were fed a mixture with sodium selenite. During the first 14 days, a...

Information on selenium bioavailability is required to derive dietary recommendations and to evaluate and improve the quality of food products. The need for robust data is particularly important in light of recent suggestions of potential health benefits associated with different intakes of selenium. The issue is not straightforward, however, because of large variations in the selenium content ...

PURPOSE The chemopreventive effects of selenium have been extensively examined, but its role in cancer development or as a chemotherapeutic agent has only recently been explored. Because selenium-binding protein 1 (SELENBP1, SBP1, hSP56) has been shown to bind selenium covalently and selenium deficiency has been associated with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), we examined its role in EAC develo...