Abstract
RESEARCH on the biochemical function of trace selenium in animal nutrition indicates it probably functions in lipid antioxidant and free radical acceptor reactions. Selenoprotein fractions from selenate-fed animals have up to 500 times the antioxidant activity of vitamin E (ref. 1). Selenoamino-acids were very effective in reducing free-radical damage to enzymes and amino-acids when aqueous solutions were exposed to ionizing radiation2. Woodbridge3 found organic selenium compounds to be powerful antioxidant agents. These unusual properties of selenium compounds in reacting with free radicals suggested that an electron paramagnetic resonance investigation of selenium amino-acids and antioxidants and their sulphur analogues would be of interest.
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References
Hamilton, J. W., and Tappel, A. L., J. Nutr., 79, 493 (1963).
Shimazu, F., and Tappel, A. L., Science, 143, 369 (1964).
Woodbridge, D. T., M.Sc. thesis, Univ. London (1959).
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WINDLE, J., WIERSEMA, A. & TAPPEL, A. Free Radicals from Selenium and Sulphur Antioxidants. Nature 203, 404–405 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/203404a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/203404a0
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