Selenium functions as a part of proteins known as selenoproteins. Through these selenoproteins, selenium functions as a defensive mechanism for oxidative stress, for the regulation of thyroid hormone activity, and for the redox status of vitamin C and other molecules. In several of its roles, selenium functions as a dietary antioxidant and thus has been studied for its possible role in chronic ...

The archaeon Methanococcus voltae needs selenium for optimal growth. A gene group most likely involved in the demethylation of dimethylselenide was discovered, the expression of which is induced upon selenium deprivation. The operon comprises open reading frames for a corrinoid protein and two putative methyltransferases. It is shown that the addition of dimethylselenide to selenium-depleted gr...

background:   objective: in this study, we supplemented a chemically defined medium with different combinations of selenium, calcium and calcium ionophore concentrations to obtain the best rate of human oocytes maturation, survival, and fertilization.   materials and methods: as an experimental study, three combinations of [selenium (5 μg/ml), calcium (5 μg/ml) and calcium ionophore (1 μg/ml)],...

background: given to the abundant incidence of malnutrition in hiv+ patients and its effect on progress of aids disease, several studies have recommended supplementation therapy (such as selenium, levamisole, zinc). methods: this clinical trial was prefunded on patient's with hiv + in behavior diseases consulting center, kermanshah, iran 2006-2007. one hundred-seventy eight out of all pati...

Selenium deficiency in humans has been associated with various diseases, the risks of which can be reduced through dietary supplementation. Selenium accumulating plants may provide a beneficial nutrient for avoiding such illnesses. Thus, leafy vegetables such as Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus sp., Cucurbita maxima, Ipomoea batatas, Solanum villosum, Solanum scabrum, and Vigna unguiculata were ...

BACKGROUND Despite selenium's toxicity in plants at higher levels, crops supply most of the essential dietary selenium in humans. In plants, inorganic selenium can be assimilated into selenocysteine, which can replace cysteine in proteins. Selenium toxicity in plants has been attributed to the formation of non-specific selenoproteins. However, this paradigm can be challenged now that there is i...

Selenium is an antioxidant trace element linked to cardiovascular disease and cancer. Although diet is a major source, relatively little else is known about independent determinants of selenium levels in free-living humans. In this study, we aimed to investigate the independent demographic, lifestyle, and dietary determinants of selenium levels in 1,997 men and 1,905 women in two large prospect...

BACKGROUND Findings from animal models suggest that selenium supplementation improves glucose metabolism. OBJECTIVE To examine the effect of long-term selenium supplementation on the incidence of type 2 diabetes. DESIGN Secondary analysis of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING Areas of low selenium consumption of the eastern United States. PATIENTS 1202 persons...

Selenium is a trace nutrient element that protects cells against oxidative damage. In this study, the potential of selenium to improve stem cell potency through active proliferation and migration of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was investigated, together with the underlying molecular mechanisms. The results indicated that selenium applied for 24 h stimulated cell proliferation up to 20% compared to unt...

A case-cohort study, within a multi-country trial of antiretroviral therapy (ART) efficacy (Prospective Evaluation of Antiretrovirals in Resource Limited Settings (PEARLS)), was conducted to determine if pre-ART serum selenium deficiency is independently associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression after ART initiation. Cases were HIV-1 infected adults with either clin...