Systems Biology of Selenium and Complex Disease

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Biochemistry
• Genetics

Background:

• Selenium is vital for health, but its deficiency or dyshomeostasis is linked to diseases.
• Previous research on selenium and complex diseases yielded inconsistent results.
• Systems biology and omics approaches are increasingly used to study selenium metabolism and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review recent large-scale and systematic analyses of selenium's relationship with complex diseases.
• To discuss advances in ionomics and its role in understanding selenium-trace element interactions.
• To synthesize current knowledge on selenium status, selenoproteins, and human health.

Main Methods:

• Review of population-based cohort studies and meta-analyses.
• Analysis of genetic association studies.
• Inclusion of omics-based studies (genomics, proteomics, metabolomics).
• Discussion of ionomics applications.

Main Results:

• Systematic analyses are providing a more global view of selenium's role in complex diseases.
• Omics approaches reveal intricate variations in selenium metabolism under different conditions.
• Ionomics sheds light on interactions between selenium and other essential trace elements.

Conclusions:

• Large-scale and omics studies are crucial for clarifying selenium's complex role in human health and disease.
• Understanding selenium-trace element interactions is key for nutritional and disease management.
• Further research integrating omics and ionomics is needed to fully elucidate selenium's impact.