[Selenium and its role in nutrition].

The review presents data available in the literature on the spread of selenium deficiency. Epidemiological surveys show that there is a potential risk for selenium deficiency in pregnant females and in 7-10-year-old children. The negative impact of radiation on serum selenium levels was evidenced by a survey of Chernobyl Atomic Power Station workers. Higher selenium levels in the hairs of the pubis, beard, celiac plexus, and axillary spaces than those in the hair of the head (by 1.41, 1.34, 1.36, and 1.14 times, respectively) confirm that there is a relationship between selenium and sexual hormones in the body. Dietary fiber concentrates that are derived from plant materials and contain a complex of structural carbohydrates and lignin may be used in combination with selenium compounds in human diets to prevent selenium deficiency.