The following references have become outdated or may have been superseded by newer science-based publications. Nonetheless, they remain relevant and considered critical information resources. Click on the name of the author to read the publication.
Selenium, selenoproteins and human health: a review. Brown KM, Arthur JR. Public Health Nutr. 2001 Apr;4(2B):593-9. Review. PMID: 11683552 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Recent developments in selenium research.
Taylor D, Dalton C, Hall A, Woodroofe MN, Gardiner PH. Br J Biomed Sci. 2009;66(2):107-16; quiz 129. Review. PMID: 19637654 [PubMed – indexed for MEDLINE]
Boosting the Immune System
Host nutritional selenium status as a driving force for influenza virus mutations (PDF file)
Heather K. Nelson, Qing Shi, Peter Van Dael, Eduardo J. Schiffrin, Stephanie Blum, Denis Barclay, Orville A. Levander, and Melinda A. Beck, Departments of Nutrition and Pediatrics, University of NC at Chapel Hill; Nestlé Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland; and USDA, ARS, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Beltsville, MD Corresponding author: Melinda A. Beck, Ph.D., Department of Pediatrics, 535 Burnett-Womack, CB #7220, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Se-adequate mice infected with virus recovered from Se-deficient mice develop severe lung pathology Previous work in our laboratory (5) demonstrated that Se-deficient mice developed much more severe pathology postinfluenza virus infection than did Se-adequate mice.
Broome CS, McArdle F, Kyle JA, Andrews F, Lowe NM, Hart CA, Arthur JR, Jackson MJ. An increase in selenium intake improves immune function and poliovirus handling in adults with marginal selenium status. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Jul;80(1):154-62.
McCarty MF. natural antimutagenic agents may prolong efficacy of human immunodeficiency virus drug therapy. Med Hypotheses. 1997 Mar;48(3):215-20.
Beck MA, Shi Q, Morris VC, Levander OA. Rapid genomic evolution of a non-virulent coxsackievirus B3 in selenium-deficient mice results in selection of identical virulent isolates. Nat Med. 1995 May;1(5):433-6.
Kiremidjian-Schumacher L, Roy M, Wishe HI, Cohen MW, Stotzky G. Supplementation with selenium and human immune cell functions. II. Effect on cytotoxic lymphocytes and natural killer cells.
Biol Trace Elem Res. 1994 Apr-May;41(1-2):115-27.
Burbano X, Miguez-Burbano MJ, McCollister K, Zhang G, Rodriguez A, Ruiz P, Lecusay R, Shor-Posner G. Impact of a selenium chemoprevention clinical trial on hospital admissions of HIV-infected participants. HIV Clin Trials. 2002 Nov-Dec;3(6):483-91.
Baum MK, Shor-Posner G, Lai S, Zhang G, Lai H, Fletcher MA, Sauberlich H, Page JB. High risk of HIV-related mortality is associated with selenium deficiency. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol. 1997 Aug 15;15(5):370-4.
Preventing Cancer
El-Bayoumy K. The protective role of selenium on genetic damage and on cancer. Mutat Res. 2001 Apr 18;475(1-2):123-39.
Combs GF Jr. Status of selenium in prostate cancer prevention. Br J Cancer. 2004 Jul 19;91(2):195-9.
Mantovani G, Maccio A, Madeddu C, Serpe R, Massa E, Gramignano G, Lusso MR, Curreli N, Rinaldi A. Selenium is effective in inducing lymphocyte progression through cell cycle in cancer patients: potential mechanisms for its activity. J Exp Ther Oncol. 2004 Apr;4(1):69-78.
Sieja K, Talerczyk M. Selenium as an element in the treatment of ovarian cancer in women receiving chemotherapy. Gynecol Oncol. 2004 May;93(2):320-7.
Finley JW. Reduction of cancer risk by consumption of selenium-enriched plants: enrichment of broccoli with selenium increases the anticarcinogenic properties of broccoli. J Med Food. 2003 Spring;6(1):19-26.
Zeegers MP, Goldbohm RA, Bode P, van den Brandt PA. Prediagnostic toenail selenium and risk of bladder cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2002 Nov;11(11):1292-7.
Yadav SP, Gera A, Singh I, Chanda R. Serum selenium levels in patients with head and neck cancer.
J Otolaryngol. 2002 Aug;31(4):216-9.
Combs GF Jr. Impact of selenium and cancer-prevention findings on the nutrition-health paradigm.
Nutr Cancer. 2001;40(1):6-11.
Detoxification of Heavy Metals
Patrick L. Toxic metals and antioxidants: Part II. The role of antioxidants in arsenic and cadmium toxicity. Altern Med Rev. 2003 May;8(2):106-28.
Whanger PD. Selenium in the treatment of heavy metal poisoning and chemical carcinogenesis.
J Trace Elem Electrolytes Health Dis. 1992 Dec;6(4):209-21.
Yoshinaga J, Matsuo N, Imai H, Nakazawa M, Suzuki T, Morita M, Akagi H. Interrelationship between the concentrations of some elements in the organs of Japanese with special reference to selenium-heavy metal relationships. Sci Total Environ. 1990 Feb;91:127-40.
Nuttall KL. A model for metal selenide formation under biological conditions. Med Hypotheses. 1987 Oct;24(2):217-21.
Schrauzer GN. Effects of selenium antagonists on cancer susceptibility: new aspects of chronic heavy metal toxicity. J UOEH. 1987 Mar 20;9 Suppl:208-15.
Chowdhury BA, Chandra RK. Biological and health implications of toxic heavy metal and essential trace element interactions. Prog Food Nutr Sci. 1987;11(1):55-113.
Thyroid
Kohrle J. The trace element selenium and the thyroid gland. Biochimie. 1999 May;81(5):527-33.
Sher L. Role of thyroid hormones in the effects of selenium on mood, behavior, and cognitive function.
Med Hypotheses. 2001 Oct;57(4):480-3. Br J Urol. 1998 Jul;82(1):76-80.
Gartner R, Gasnier BC, Dietrich JW, Krebs B, Angstwurm MW. Selenium supplementation in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis decreases thyroid peroxidase antibodies concentrations.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Apr;87(4):1687-91.
Other Uses
Scott R, MacPherson A, Yates RW, Hussain B, Dixon J. The effect of oral selenium supplementation on human sperm motility. Br J Urol. 1998 Jul;82(1):76-80.