June 2025 - Seleniumfacts.com

Selenium is an essential mineral for humans and animals. Selenium deficiency can occur at low dietary intake levels. Sub-optimal and deficiency levels of selenium are associated with negative health outcomes [Wesolowski 2022; Bomer 2020].

Woman exercising — Not much research has been done on the role of selenium in skeletal muscle mitochondria beyond investigations of selenium’s antioxidant roles. Some evidence indicates that selenium may influence mitochondrial bio-genesis and function in skeletal muscle.

Selenium is best known for its biological role as a component of antioxidant selenoproteins, in particular the glutathione peroxidases and the thioredoxin reductases. These antioxidant enzymes protect against
oxidative stress, reduce the extent of systemic inflammation, and regulate
cell death [Wesolowski 2022].

In addition, selenium as a constituent of some 25 known selenoproteins has a variety of physiological functions beyond the antioxidant capabilities. One of the more interesting roles of selenium is the promotion of mitochondrial bio-genesis in skeletal muscle [Wesolowski 2022]. read more

In humans, Selenoprotein P is the selenium-dependent compound that serves as the primary selenium transport protein in the blood circulation. Selenoprotein P, abbreviated SELENOP, is synthesized in the liver. From the liver, then, it carries selenium out to the peripheral cells and tissues. In this way, it is responsible for ensuring selenium homeostasis throughout the body [Schomburg 2022].

Trace element selenium — Selenoprotein P transports selenium from the liver to the other tissues and organs, with high priority to the brain and the testes. SELENOP helps maintain selenium homeostasis in the body. SELENOP also serves as a useful biomarker of selenium status.

In addition, SELENOP plays a role in the antioxidant defense of the organism. It acts as a scavenger of harmful free radicals. It also supports the activity of the glutathione peroxidases and the thioredoxin reductases. These selenium-dependent enzymes have a major role in the antioxidant protection of the cells. Given its antioxidant effects, SELENOP helps to modulate immune system responses [Schomburg 2022]. read more

Milestones in early selenium research

1817 Swedish chemist Jöns Jakob Berzelius discovers selenium

1957 Biochemist Klaus Schwarz shows that selenium in microscopic amounts has a vital importance for mammalian health

1969 Professor J.T. Rotruck discovers that selenium has a biochemical role as a component of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase

1969 Professors R.J. Shamberger and D.V. Frost report a possible protective effect of selenium against cancer in humans

1973 Professor J.T. Rotruck identifies the enzyme glutathione peroxidase as a selenium-dependent protein

1977 Professor G.N. Schrauzer publishes cancer mortality correlation studies showing an inverse correlation between dietary intakes of selenium and cancer mortality in 27 countries

1988 Professor G.Q Yang summarizes the lessons learned about the selenium-related endemic diseases Keshan disease and Kashin-Beck disease and about the importance of adequate daily selenium intakes

1989 Professor G.G. Duthie publishes evidence for a role of selenium in the prevention of cardiovascular disease

1993 Researcher W.J. Blot publishes the results of the Nutrition Intervention Trials in Linxian, China, showing that supplementation with a combination of selenium and other antioxidants reduces the risk of cancer

1994 Professor G.N. Schrauzer publishes evidence that selenium is important in the maintenance and therapy of HIV-infected patients

1996 Professor Larry Clark publishes the results of a randomized controlled trial – the Nutritional Prevention of Cancer study -- that shows selenium's cancer-protective effects on colon cancer, lung cancer, and prostate cancer

1997 Professor G.F. Combs summarizes the evidence for the protective effects of selenium against cancer

1999 Professor J.E. Oldfield publishes his Selenium World Atlas, mapping areas of selenium deficiency around the world

2000 Researcher O.A. Levander publishes evidence showing an anti-viral effect of selenium

2002 Researcher R. Gärtner shows that supplementation with selenium reduces inflammation in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis

2002 Researcher Margaret Rayman presents the arguments for increasing selenium intakes to realize selenium’s antioxidant and anti-viral and anti-inflammatory effects as well as selenium’s enhancement of immune function and reproductive success.

Month: June 2025

Selenium and Skeletal Muscle Energy Generation

Selenium and Selenoprotein P