On the importance of selenium and iodine metabolism for thyroid hormone biosynthesis and human health

The trace elements iodine and selenium (Se) are essential for thyroid gland functioning and thyroid hormone biosynthesis and metabolism. While iodine is needed as the eponymous constituent of the two major thyroid hormones triiodo‐ L ‐thyronine (T3), and tetraiodo‐ L ‐thyronine (T4), Se is essential for the biosynthesis and function of a small number of selenocysteine (Sec)‐containing selenoproteins implicated in thyroid hormone metabolism and...