What is the chemical identity and basic function of selenium in human physiology?

Label:chem

Topic
Selenium is referred to throughout the paper as an “essential trace element” and the central atom in 25 known human selenoproteins.
Answer
Selenium is the trace element Se (atomic number 34) that, after metabolic reduction to selenide (H₂Se/Se²⁻), is inserted as selenocysteine (Sec) into selenoproteins. These selenoproteins (e.g., GPXs, TXNRDs, SELENOP, SELENOS, SELENOM, SELENOK, SELENOW) serve redox-regulatory and anti-inflammatory roles critical to hepatic and systemic homeostasis.
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