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Clinical Use:
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Selenium is an essential trace element in humans and animals, selenium is a biologically active part of a number of important proteins, particularly enzymes involved in antioxidant defence mechanisms (e.g., glutathione peroxidases), thyroid hormone metabolism (e.g., deiodinase enzymes), and redox control of intracellular reactions (e.g., thioredoxin reductase).
Selenium is found in many over-the-counter vitamin preparations and industrial exposure occurs in the manufacture of glass pigments, paints, dyes, electronics, fungicides, rubber and semiconductors.
Exposure to selenium results in garlic smell in breath and urine, metallic taste, headaches, nausea, vomiting, numbness, convulsions, pneumonia, pulmonary oedema and circulatory collapse.
Human deficiency of selenium has been observed as endemic cretinism, Balkan nephropathy, Keshan's disease and Kashin-Black disease. |