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

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition volume 74, pages 449–460 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

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.

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Abbreviations

Ca:

Calcium

CI:

Confidence interval

CRP:

C-reactive protein

Cu:

Copper

CVD:

Cardiovascular disease

DW:

Dry weight

Fe:

Iron

FW:

Fresh weight

GSH-Px:

Glutathione peroxidase

HR:

Hazard ratio

K:

Potassium

Mg:

Magnesium

Mn:

Manganese

Na:

Sodium

NPCT:

Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Trial

OR:

Odds ratio

PREADViSE:

Prevention of Alzheimer’s Disease by Vitamin E and Selenium Trial

RCT:

Randomized control trials

RDA:

Recommended dietary allowance

RR:

Relative risk

S:

Sulfur

Se:

Selenium

SELECT:

Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial

UL:

Tolerable upper intake level

Zn:

Zinc

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Affiliations

  1. Division of Animal and Nutritional Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Rachel Newman & Janet C. Tou

  2. Division of Plant and Soil Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, 26506, USA

    Nicole Waterland & Youyoun Moon

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Newman, R., Waterland, N., Moon, Y. et al. Selenium Biofortification of Agricultural Crops and Effects on Plant Nutrients and Bioactive Compounds Important for Human Health and Disease Prevention – a Review. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 74, 449–460 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-019-00769-z

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Keywords

  • Selenium
  • Biofortification
  • Antioxidants
  • Minerals