Study summary · research use only
Selenium, aging and aging-related diseases
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
This review (species not specified) discusses selenium, an essential trace element incorporated into selenoproteins such as glutathione peroxidase, thioredoxin reductase, and methionine sulfoxide reductase1, described by the authors as having antioxidant activity. The review discusses reactive oxygen species as an initiating factor in aging and aging-related diseases including neuropsychiatric disease, tumors, cardiovascular disease, and skin aging, and describes selenium as contributing to reduced reactive-oxygen-species-mediated inflammation, reduced DNA damage, and prolonged telomere length in some reports. The authors note that with accumulating research, selenium supplementation does not necessarily correlate with prevention of aging or aging-related disease, and that selenium's role in human aging remains debated in the literature.
Abstract
Selenium is an essential trace element in the human body and plays an important role in the body via selenoprotein, which contains selenium. Selenoproteins (glutathione peroxidase, thioredoxin reductase, methionine sulfoxide reductase1 and endoplasmic reticulum-selenoproteins, etc.) have antioxidant effects and are involved in regulating antioxidant activities. Aging is an inevitable process and is always accompanied by aging-related diseases. Reactive oxygen species are important initial factors in aging and aging-related diseases. Selenium contributes to the alleviation of reduced reactive oxygen species-mediated inflammation, reduced DNA damage and prolonged telomere length and thereby plays roles in fighting aging and preventing aging-related diseases. In the elderly, aging-related diseases include neuropsychiatric diseases, tumors, cardiovascular diseases, and skin aging, among others. Selenium supplementation is an important strategy for anti-aging and the prevention of aging-related diseases and is of great significance for the elderly. However, with the accumulation of related research, selenium supplementation does not necessarily contribute to the prevention of aging and aging-related diseases. It is believed that a low level of selenium is beneficial to the human body. Thus, the effect of selenium on human aging and aging-related diseases is still controversial. This paper reviews the research progress and objective role of selenium in aging and aging-related diseases.
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