[Selenium deficiency in humans and animals--a short review]

This brief review is concerned with the main aspects of our knowledge of a deficiency of the trace element selenium in man and animals. After an introduction about the history of the discovery of selenium as an essential trace element in man and animals a short definition of the term "essential" is given. The following chapters are concerned with the etiology of selenium deficiency, the measurement of selenium status and the biological functions of selenium in mammals. Finally selenium deficiency diseases in man and animals will be discussed.