Selenium: essentiality versus toxicity

摘要

The essential element selenium is on fundamental role in animal and human health. Selenium is incorporated into many selenoproteins, and plays both structural and enzymatic roles. Selenium has both beneficial and harmful effects. Selenium is essential at low levels of intake and produces toxic symptoms when ingested at higher than those required for adequate nutrition. It is well established that Se deficiency causes health implications in humans and animals. Se is also very toxic and can cause Se poisoning (selenosis). The paper provides a brief overview of the effects of Se essentiality and toxicity in humans.