A case‐control study of the relation between plasma selenium and asthma in European populations: a GA²LEN project*

Abstract

This study does not support a role for selenium in protection against asthma, but effect modification and confounding cannot be ruled out.

The Role of Selenium in Inflammation and Immunity: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Opportunities

“…For example, a number of epidemiological studies have reported that asthma incidence, prevalence, or severity is associated with reduced Se status (52,69,92,120,130,170,190,202,228,244). This is in contrast to findings in a large, multi-regional study conducted under the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network, in which asthma prevalence/severity data from 14 centers in Europe showed no significant association between Se status and asthma levels (33). Other studies also have failed to confirm a link between Se levels or GPx activities and development of asthma.…”

Dietary patterns and risk of asthma: results from three countries in European Community Respiratory Health Survey-II

“…Patterns similar to this have often been labelled 'western' and are likely to represent a mixture of dietary components which may independently contribute to asthma risk (5,6) . Heterogeneity in multi-centre studies can also suggest alternative explanations for apparent effects of diet observed in single centres, such as uncontrolled confounding, and would make us cautious of progressing to a trial (36) . Our study was cross-sectional, and a further possibility is reverse causation, people with asthma may alter their diet in a systematic way at a given centre, for example, to be more 'healthy'.…”

Asthma in the 21st Century — Unexpected Applications of Ancient Treatments

“…While others studies have found no relationship between serum selenium level and asthma in Japanese and Europe populations [247,248]. Selenium supplementation studies in mouse OVA-induced asthma models have shown that selenium has some protective effects on asthma-associated inflammation.…”

“…It contains the active compounds including glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetinic acid, flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and chalcones [248]. Glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid are considered to be the main active components [249] and are potent inhibitors of cortisol metabolism, due to their steroid like structures inhibiting the key steroid metabolic enzymes, delta 4-5-reductase, 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 20-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase [250,251].…”