Mitochondria Archives - 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

Selenium supplements may be beneficial as an adjuvant treatment for patients with mitochondrial disorders. This is especially true in many parts of Europe and the Middle East where the soil and the foodstuffs have poor selenium content [Stoffaneller & Morse 2015]. Specifically, individuals with mitochondrial dysfunction need the antioxidant and anti-inflammation effects of selenium-dependent selenoproteins [Alehagen 2021; Opstad 2022].

Prof Jan Aaseth — The mitochondria are the organelles in our cells that generate the ATP energy that our cells need to function. They are our essential mini power plants. However, mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with generation of toxic oxygen, telomere shortening, cell death, and biological aging. Pictured: Prof. Jan Aaseth, MD, PhD, Innlandet Hospital & Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences.

Mitochondrial dysfunction can be defined as the diminished capacity of the mitochondria in the cells to convert sugars into energy, i.e., the diminished capacity of the cells to generate ATP energy [Miwa 2022].

Mitochondrial dysfunction is closely associated with biological aging and with cell senescence (the cessation of cell division) [Miwa 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.

Tag: Mitochondria

Selenium and Skeletal Muscle Energy Generation

Selenium and Mitochondrial Disorders and Telomere Attrition