The role of selenium in nutrition – A review

Abstract

The role of selenium has been changed over the last decade. The element that was previously considered to be toxic turned out to be present in the human body in amounts of 10–15 mg, and almost every cell of our body contains it. Selenium contributes to growth, supports healthy muscle activity, reproductive organs, reduces the toxicity of certain elements such as mercury, supports the immune system, and even delays the spread of certain viruses (influenza, Ebola, HIV). Selenium-deficient areas of Europe could be a risk for their populations. The recommended daily intake (RDA) of selenium is 55 µg/day, while WHO and FAO have set up the daily tolerable dose at 400 µg/day. We must count with the harmful effects of selenium overdose, but it is almost impossible to introduce this amount into our body solely with food. Our selenium sources can be refilled with food supplements or selenium-enriched functional foods. In the review article, we report about the role of selenium in the environment, selenium-enriched plants, selenium-enriched yeast, the role of selenium in animal feed and in the human body, the opportunities of selenium restoration, selenium-enriched animal products, and the selenium content of milk.

Se-Enrichment Pattern, Composition, and Aroma Profile of Ripe Tomatoes after Sodium Selenate Foliar Spraying Performed at Different Plant Developmental Stages

“…Selenium plays several crucial roles in human metabolism [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. At the right concentrations, it positively affects DNA synthesis, fertility, reproduction, and muscle function.…”

Uptake Dynamics of Ionic and Elemental Selenium Forms and Their Metabolism in Multiple-Harvested Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

“…However, nowadays, the presence of an adequate concentration of Se in food and feed has become a necessity after stating its indispensability to humans and animals. For instance, for humans, the advised daily dose of Se is 55 µg day −1 with a tolerance limit of up to 400 µg day −1 as stated by the WHO and FAO [ 12 ], whereas higher doses of Se are required by animals. Beef cattle, for example, require 100 µg kg −1 (on dry matter basis), while dairy cows demand 300 µg kg −1 (on dry matter basis) [ 13 ].…”

Biogenic Selenium Nanoparticles in Animal Nutrition: A Review

“…Selenium compounds commonly exist in four oxidation states in nature: selenate (Se +6 ), selenite (Se +4 ), elemental selenium (Se 0 ), and selenide (Se −2 ). The inorganic forms of Se (i.e., selenates and selenites) are soluble in water and, usually, they present in this form in water, or they can be found in different minerals [12]. They are known to be toxic to biological systems even in low concentrations [13].…”