Cover -- Contents -- Preface -- 1. Introduction -- 1.1 The element selenium -- 1.2 The discovery of selenium: the Swedish connection -- 1.2.1 Predecessors of Berzelius -- 1.3 Selenium chemistry -- 1.3.1 Allotropic forms of selenium -- 1.3.2 Physical properties of selenium -- 1.3.3 Inorganic compounds of selenium -- 1.3.4 Organo-selenium compounds -- 1.3.5 Isotopes of selenium -- 1.4 Distribution of selenium in the lithosphere -- 1.4.1 Selenium in soil -- 1.4.2 Selenium in water -- 1.5 Sources and production of selenium -- 1.6 Industrial and other applications of selenium -- 1.7 Selenium analysis -- 1.7.1 Sample preparation -- 1.7.2 End-determination methods for selenium analysis -- 1.7.3 Speciation analysis -- 1.7.4 Analytical quality control -- 2. The biology of selenium -- 2.1 A belated recognition -- 2.2 The biological role of selenium in prokaryotes -- 2.3 Selenium in plants -- 2.3.1 Selenium in higher plants -- 2.3.2 Selenium metabolism in plants -- 2.3.3 Selenium in food plants -- 2.4 Selenium in animal tissues -- 2.4.1 Absorption, transport, and excretion of selenium -- 2.4.2 Enteric absorption of selenium -- 2.4.3 Transport of selenium in the body -- 2.4.4 Selenium distribution and retention in the human body -- 2.4.5 Selenium levels in blood -- 2.4.6 Selenium retention and excretion from the body -- 2.4.7 Selenium pools and stores in the body -- 3. Selenium metabolism -- 3.1 The metabolic roles of selenium -- 3.1.1 Selenoproteins -- 3.2 Selenoprotein synthesis -- 3.2.1 Selenocysteine: the 21st amino acid -- 3.2.2 Selenoprotein synthesis in prokaryotes -- 3.2.3 Selenoprotein synthesis in eukaryotes -- 3.3 Regulation of selenoprotein expression -- 3.3.1 Complexities of regulation of selenoprotein synthesis -- 3.4 Selenium status -- 3.4.1 Assessment of selenium status -- 4. Selenium in health and disease I: The agricultural connection -- 4.1 Selenium and agriculture -- 4.2 Selenium toxicity in farm animals -- 4.2.1 Alkali disease and blind staggers -- 4.2.2 Selenosis in farm animals outside the USA -- 4.3 The other face of selenium-an essential nutrient -- 4.3.1 Selenium as an essential nutritional factor -- 4.4 Selenium-responsive conditions in farm animals -- 4.4.1 White muscle disease -- 4.4.2 Exudative diathesis -- 4.4.3 Hepatosis dietetica -- 4.4.4 Pancreatic degeneration -- 4.4.5 Ill thrift -- 4.4.6 Impaired reproduction -- 4.4.7 Impaired immune response -- 4.5 Subclinical selenium deficiencies -- 4.6 Selenium supplementation of livestock -- 5. Selenium in health and disease II: Endemic selenium-related conditions in humans -- 5.1 Selenium toxicity -- 5.1.1 Selenium toxicity in humans in seleniferous regions of North America -- 5.1.2 Human selenosis in Latin America -- 5.1.3 Endemic selenosis in China -- 5.1.4 Other consequences of large-scale selenium intake -- 5.2 Endemic diseases related to selenium deficiency in humans -- 5.2.1 Keshan disease -- 5.2 &
Summary
The huge mass of writing on Selenium makes it very difficult for many to get a clear picture of what is known about the element and its role in human health. This book presents information in an easy-to-follow manner for readers to make an informed judgment about the competing claims for and against Selenium's value as a nutritional supplement
