Selenium Homeostasis and Clustering of Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Systematic Review

Relationship Between Zinc, Selenium, and Magnesium Status and Markers of Metabolically Healthy and Unhealthy Obesity Phenotypes

Our objective was to investigate the relationship between zinc, selenium, and magnesium status and markers of metabolically healthy and unhealthy obesity phenotypes. This was a cross-sectional study with 140 women: metabolically healthy obese women (n = 35), metabolically unhealthy obese women (n = 28), and normal-weight women (n = 77). We have calculated the body mass index, waist-hip ratio, waist-height ratio and some adiposity indices. Additionally, we evaluated endocrine-metabolic parameters and estimated the dietary intake of energy, macronutrients, zinc, selenium, and magnesium. The mineral concentrations in plasma, erythrocytes, and urine were assessed. In obese patients, there was a significant decrease in dietary zinc, selenium, and magnesium intake per kilogram of body weight, as well as lower mineral concentrations in both plasma and erythrocytes. Additionally, these patients exhibited higher urinary mineral levels compared to the control group, regardless of whether they had healthy or unhealthy phenotypes. We observed a significant correlation between deficiencies in zinc, selenium, and magnesium and obesity-associated metabolic disorders, including dyslipidemias and redox status disturbances. This study highlights a connection between deficiencies in zinc, selenium, and magnesium and metabolic disorders linked to obesity, including dyslipidemias, alterations in redox status, and thyroid hormonal dysfunction.

A Comprehensive Review on Selenium and Its Effects on Human Health and Distribution in Middle Eastern Countries

Selenium (Se) is an important microelement with numerous positive effects on human health and diseases. It is important to specify that the status and consumption of Se are for a specific community as the levels of Se are extremely unpredictable between different populations and regions. Our existing paper was based on the impacts of Se on human health and disease along with data on the Se levels in Middle Eastern countries. Overall, the findings of this comprehensive review show that the consumption and levels of Se are inadequate in Middle Eastern nations. Such findings, together with the growing awareness of the importance of Se to general health, require further work primarily on creating an acceptable range of blood Se concentration or other measures to determine optimal Se consumption and, consequently, to guarantee adequate Se supplementation in populations at high risk of low Se intake.

The Role of Selenoprotein Tissue Homeostasis in MetS Programming: Energy Balance and Cardiometabolic Implications

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element mainly known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties, as it is part of the catalytic center of 25 different selenoproteins. Some of them are related to insulin resistance (IR) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) generation, modulating reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the energetic sensor AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK); they can also regulate the nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-kB), leading to changes in inflammation production. Selenoproteins are also necessary for the correct synthesis of insulin and thyroid hormones. They are also involved in endocrine central regulation of appetite and energy homeostasis, affecting growth and development. MetS, a complex metabolic disorder, can appear during gestation and lactation in mothers, leading to energetic and metabolic changes in their offspring that, according to the metabolic programming theory, will produce cardiovascular and metabolic diseases later in life. However, there is a gap concerning Se tissue levels and selenoproteins’ implications in MetS generation, which is even greater during MetS programming. This narrative review also provides an overview of the existing evidence, based on experimental research from our laboratory, which strengthens the fact that maternal MetS leads to changes in Se tissue deposits and antioxidant selenoproteins’ expression in their offspring. These changes contribute to alterations in tissues’ oxidative damage, inflammation, energy balance, and tissue function, mainly in the heart. Se imbalance also could modulate appetite and endocrine energy balance, affecting pups’ growth and development. MetS pups present a profile similar to that of diabetes type 1, which also appeared when dams were exposed to low-Se dietary supply. Maternal Se supplementation should be taken into account if, during gestation and/or lactation periods, there are suspicions of endocrine energy imbalance in the offspring, such as MetS. It could be an interesting therapy to induce heart reprogramming. However, more studies are necessary.

Effects of selenium intake on the expression of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (cyclooxygenase-2) and matrix metallopeptidase-9 genes in the coronary artery disease: Selenegene study, a double-blind randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The oxidative stress is regarded as one of the main contributors to the health problem. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) are two of the important genes that are reported to be involved in the cardiovascular disease (CVD) development in the molecular and genetic association studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of expression of COX-2 and MMP-9 after selenium supplementation in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

METHODS

In this sub-study of Selenegene study, subjects were randomly divided into groups, 19 subjects who received selenium and 22 patients with CAD who received placebo. Patients received either 200-mg selenium yeast tablets or placebo tablets after a meal, once daily for 60 days. The messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of the selenium and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) (COX-2) and MMP-9 genes products were determined before and after the study.

RESULTS

In this sub-study, 41 Iranian patients with CVD were enrolled (placebo group: n = 22, selenium intervention: n = 19). Fasting blood sugar (FBS) was higher among placebo group than selenium group (93.4 ± 12.7 vs. 124.4 ± 40.6 mg/dl, P = 0.03). Triglyceride (TG) level was higher among selenium group versus placebo group (123.3 ± 34.0 vs. 184.8 ± 69.4 mg/dl, P = 0.006). The data analysis demonstrated that the expression of MMP-9 and COX-2 genes did not change significantly in both selenium and placebo groups.

CONCLUSION

This study showed a positive association between the expression of MMP-9 and COX-2 in the patients with CAD who received selenium but not the placebo groups. Yet, these findings need to be confirmed in further details and expanded sample size.

Selenium Biofortification of Agricultural Crops and Effects on Plant Nutrients and Bioactive Compounds Important for Human Health and Disease Prevention - a Review

Selenium supplementation in humans has been suggested for the prevention of chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Selenium biofortification of plants has been explored as a method for increasing selenium content of food and dietary selenium intake in humans. However, the effects of selenium biofortification on other dietary nutrients is often a secondary discussion. These effects are especially important to explore considering selenium-biofortified foods contain many other nutrients important to human health, such as other minerals and antioxidant compounds, which can make these foods superior to selenium supplementation alone. Investigation of selenium biofortification's effect on these nutrients is necessary for a comprehensive human nutrition perspective on biofortification strategies. This review considers the effects of selenium biofortification on selenium content, other minerals, and antioxidant compounds as they pertain to human health in order to suggest optimal strategies for biofortification. Pre-clinical and clinical studies assessing the effects of consumption of selenium biofortified foods are also discussed.