Cited by 1,330Selenium in Biological SystemsOrganoselenium and organotellurium chemistryTrace Elements in Health

Selenium in human health and disease

Open access
Fairweather-Tait, Susan J., Bao, Yongping, Broadley, Martin R., Collings, Rachel, Ford, Dianne, Hesketh, John E., Hurst, Rachel·2011·Antioxidants & Redox Signaling

Abstract

This review covers current knowledge of selenium in the environment, dietary intakes, metabolism and status, functions in the body, thyroid hormone metabolism, antioxidant defense systems and oxidative metabolism, and the immune system. Selenium toxicity and links between deficiency and Keshan disease and Kashin-Beck disease are described. The relationships between selenium intake/status and various health outcomes, in particular gastrointestinal and prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and male fertility, are reviewed, and recent developments in genetics of selenoproteins are outlined. The rationale behind current dietary reference intakes of selenium is explained, and examples of differences between countries and/or expert bodies are given. Throughout the review, gaps in knowledge and research requirements are identified. More research is needed to improve our understanding of selenium metabolism and requirements for optimal health. Functions of the majority of the selenoproteins await characterization, the mechanism of absorption has yet to be identified, measures of status need to be developed, and effects of genotype on metabolism require further investigation. The relationships between selenium intake/status and health, or risk of disease, are complex but require elucidation to inform clinical practice, to refine dietary recommendations, and to develop effective public health policies.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1089/ars.2010.3275

Cites

426 of 426 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Adequate selenium intake has a narrow range: 30 μg/day is inadequate for humans, while intakes exceeding 900 μg/day are potentially harmful.

    “an intake of Se of 30 μg·day−1 is inadequate for humans, while intakes exceeding 900 μg·day−1 are potentially harmful [9]”
  • Higher animals and humans directly acquire organic Se compounds (SeMet and SeCys are the major Se species in the diet) but can also internalize inorganic Se.

    “In general, higher animals and humans directly acquire organic Se compounds (SeMet and SeCys are the major Se species in the diet) but they can also internalize inorganic Se [9].”
  • Selenium exhibits strong antioxidant properties and protects against DNA damage.

    “Selenium exhibits strong antioxidant properties and protects against DNA damage [88,89].”

    From Bioactive Compounds for Skin Health: A Review (2021) · cites this paper as [88]

  • Selenium occurs in two forms: inorganic (selenates and selenites) and organic (selenomethionine and selenocysteine).

    “It occurs in two forms: inorganic (selenates and selenites) and organic (selenomethionine and selenocysteine) [88].”

    From Bioactive Compounds for Skin Health: A Review (2021) · cites this paper as [88]

  • Selenium should be supplied to the human body with foods of plant and animal origin.

    “Selenium should be supplied to the human body with foods of plant and animal origin [26,88] (Table 1).”

    From Bioactive Compounds for Skin Health: A Review (2021) · cites this paper as [88]

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Authors
Fairweather-Tait, S. J., Bao, Y., Broadley, M. R., Collings, R., Ford, D., Hesketh, J. E., & Hurst, R.
Affiliations
  • University of East Anglia
  • University of East Anglia (GB)
  • University of Nottingham (GB)
  • Newcastle University (GB)
Venue
Antioxidants & Redox Signaling
Published
2011-04
Volume
14
Issue
7
Pages
1337-1383
ISSN
  • 1523-0864 (ISSN-L)
  • 1557-7716
OpenAlex
W2074769261
Cited by
1,330
References
426
Citations by year
2026: 78 · 2025: 92 · 2024: 80 · 2023: 97 · 2022: 138 · 2021: 143 · 2020: 122 · 2019: 94 · 2018: 79 · 2017: 69 · 2016: 56 · 2015: 70 · 2014: 75 · 2013: 59 · 2012: 43
FWCI
4.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Antioxidants and Redox Signaling (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UEA Digital Repository (University of East Anglia) (submittedVersion)
  • Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity)
Funders
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/G013969/1)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Selenium in Biological Systems
  • Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Organoselenium and organotellurium chemistry
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Trace Elements in Health
Keywords
selenium, selenoproteins, selenium metabolism, selenium status, dietary selenium intake, selenium toxicity, Keshan disease, Kashin-Beck disease, thyroid hormone metabolism, antioxidant defense, oxidative stress, immune function, gastrointestinal cancer, prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, male fertility, Dietary Reference Intakes
MeSH terms
Animals, Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Antioxidants, Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Enterovirus Infections, Fertility Agents, Health, Humans, Intestinal Absorption, Mutation, Cardiomyopathies, Neoplasms, Nutritional Requirements, Selenium, Thyroid Hormones, Nutrition Policy, Selenoproteins, Kashin-Beck Disease

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