Metabolic Fate of Selected Selenium Compounds in Laboratory Animals and Man

In discussing the metabolism of selenium it is necessary to distinguish between the various forms of selenium, such as elemental selenium, inorganic selenium salts such as selenite and selenate, selenoamino acids such as selenomethionine, and other selenium-containing organic compounds. Some aspects of selenium metabolism are similar for all forms of selenium, but differences also exist. This review deals primarily with inorganic selenium in the forms of selenite and selenate, although some attention has been directed toward alkylselenium compounds, such as dimethyl selenide.