The purpose of this invention is: new selenohydroxy acid compounds and their derivatives; their process for the preparation; use of the said new compounds as precursors of L(+)-selenomethionine and / or source of
selenium in human or
animal nutrition, in
cosmetics and
pharmaceutics; and nutritional, cosmetic and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The new compounds that are the subject of this invention satisfy the general formula (I): in which n=0, 1 or 2, R1=OH, OCOR3, OPO3H2, OPO(OR4)(OR5), or OR6, R2=OH, R3, or NHR7, R3=particularly alkoxyl (C1-C26),
ceramide 1,
ceramide 2,
ceramide 3, ceramide 4, ceramide 5, ceramide 6a and 6b, S-cysteinyl, S-glutathionyl, carnitoyl, lipids, polyols, OR4=OR5=particularly alkoxyl (C1-C26), ceramide 1, ceramide 2, ceramide 3, ceramide 4, ceramide 5, ceramide 6a and 6b, S-cysteinyl, S-glutathionyl, carnitoyl, lipids, polyols, OR6=pyruvate, lactate, citrate, fumarate, maleate, myristate, palmitate,
stearate, palmitoleate, oleate, linoleate, natural fatty acids, or 13-cis retinoate R7=H,
alkyl, natural amino acids, or natural amines.