Selenium Biofortification: Roles, Mechanisms, Responses and Prospects

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Biochemistry
• Agricultural Science

Background:

• Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for all living organisms, playing critical roles in biological processes.
• In nature, inorganic selenium compounds are converted to organic forms, primarily selenoamino acids like selenocysteine (SeCys) and selenomethionine (SeMet), through microbial action.
• SeCys is crucial for enzyme catalytic activity, while SeMet can substitute methionine in proteins, impacting nutritional value.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the multifaceted roles and importance of selenium in human nutrition.
• To explore the mechanisms and prospects of selenium biofortification in plants as a strategy to address Se deficiency.
• To summarize the current understanding of Se metabolism and its impact on various physiological systems.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing existing research on selenium's biological functions and nutritional significance.
• Analysis of plant uptake, accumulation, and conversion of selenium forms.
• Examination of molecular breeding, genetic engineering, and agronomic approaches for selenium biofortification.

Main Results:

• Organic selenium forms are essential for human health, supporting immune, reproductive, thyroid, and brain functions, as well as cellular enzyme activity.
• Dietary selenium levels in humans are directly influenced by soil selenium content and its uptake by plants and animals.
• Plant biofortification with selenium is an effective strategy to increase selenium content in agricultural products, thereby improving human and animal nutrition.

Conclusions:

• Improving selenium availability to plants is a key strategy for overcoming human and animal selenium deficiencies.
• Selenium biofortification, integrating molecular techniques with agronomic practices, presents a viable approach to enhance selenium levels in food sources.
• Further research into selenium's mechanisms and optimal biofortification strategies can significantly contribute to global nutritional health.