Protection from radiation by selenium

: We examined acute toxicity and radioprotective activity of inorganic (calcium selenites, manganese, strontium and lanthanum) and organic selenium compounds. Results from animal experiments indicate that some of the organic selenium compounds are protective against ionizing radiation and promising as radioprotective agents. The time required to achieve the maximum radioprotective activity for selenium compounds depends on the degree of oxidation. Optimal duration of prophylactic administration of drugs with a degree of oxidation of Se+4 is 24 hours, and Se+2--1 hour. The radioprotective mechanism of selenium may be associated with the antioxidant properties.