Effect of experimental selenium deficiency and its supplementation on the candidacidal activity of neutrophils in albino rats.

The role of selenium in the diet of rats has been examined with respect to the neutrophil functions. Feeding of Se-deficient diet for 75 days resulted in reduction in candidacidal activity, superoxide production, oxygen consumption, glucose utilisation and glutathione peroxidase activity. Supplementing the diet with Se for 30 days resulted in partial restoration of all the activities.