Selenium: recent clinical advances

Selenium is an essential trace element that serves a number of metabolic fu nctions. Its recommended dietary allowance has been set at 55 mug per day f or adults. Selenium deficiency has not been reported to occur in healthy pe rsons in the United States and Canada. However, many people in the world ha ve suboptimal intakes of the element and may suffer clinical consequences. Certain viruses become more virulent by being passed through selenium-defic ient animals. This might have public health consequences because viruses of clinical significance infect selenium-deficient populations in China and e lsewhere. Selenium has also been promoted as a cancer chemopreventive agent when given at supranutritional levels. Studies are underway to evaluate th is use of the element. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2001, 17:162-166 (C) 2001 Li ppincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.