Selenium's Significance for Human Health and Its Potential Anti-Oncogenic Properties: A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2025.78.57599Keywords
selenium, anti-oncogenic, cancer treatment, cancer prevention, human healthAbstract
Introduction
Selenium (Se), an essential trace element, has attracted considerable attention due to its multifaceted roles in human health, particularly its potential anti-oncogenic properties. This literature review aims to synthesise current knowledge regarding the biological functions of Se, its association with cancer risk, and the efficacy of Se supplementation in the prevention and treatment of cancer. The review provides a critical evaluation of the evidence derived from epidemiological studies, randomised controlled trials (RCTs), and mechanistic investigations, elucidating areas of consensus and divergence within the existing literature. Furthermore, it underscores the roles of Se in additional domains of human health, including cardiology, neurology, and endocrinology.
References
1. Kieliszek M, Bano I, Zare H. A Comprehensive Review on Selenium and Its Effects on Human Health and Distribution in Middle Eastern Countries. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2022 Mar;200(3):971–87.
2. Reszka E, Jablonska E, Gromadzinska J, Wasowicz W. Relevance of selenoprotein transcripts for selenium status in humans. Genes Nutr. 2012 Apr;7(2):127–37.
3. Yuan S, Zhang Y, Dong PY, Chen Yan YM, Liu J, Zhang BQ, et al. A comprehensive review on potential role of selenium, selenoproteins and selenium nanoparticles in male fertility. Heliyon. 2024 Aug;10(15):e34975 .
4. Maleczek M, Reszeć-Giełażyn J, Szymulewska-Konopko K. Beneficial Effects of Selenium and Its Supplementation on Carcinogenesis and the Use of Nanoselenium in the Treatment of Malignant Tumors. IJMS. 2024 Oct 20;25(20):11285.
5. Rayman MP. Selenium and human health. The Lancet. 2012 Mar;379(9822):1256–68.
6. Kieliszek M, Błażejak S. Current Knowledge on the Importance of Selenium in Food for Living Organisms: A Review. Molecules. 2016 May 10;21(5):609.
7. Cai X, Wang C, Yu W, Fan W, Wang S, Shen N, et al. Selenium Exposure and Cancer Risk: an Updated Meta-analysis and Meta-regression. Sci Rep. 2016 Jan 20;6(1):19213.
8. Chen J, Berry MJ. Selenium and selenoproteins in the brain and brain diseases. Journal of Neurochemistry. 2003 Jul;86(1):1–12.
9. Beckett GJ, Arthur JR. Selenium and endocrine systems. Journal of Endocrinology. 2005 Mar;184(3):455–65.
10. Vinceti M, Dennert G, Crespi CM, Zwahlen M, Brinkman M, Zeegers MP, et al. Selenium for preventing cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Mar 30;2014(3):CD005195.
11. Lener M, Muszyńska M, Jakubowska A, Jaworska-Bieniek K, Sukiennicki G, Kaczmarek K, et al. Review Selenium as a marker of cancer risk and of selection for control examinations in surveillance. wo. 2015;1A:60–1.
12. Le NT, Pham YTH, Le CTK, Le LT, Le TD, Dao HV, et al. A U-shaped association between selenium intake and cancer risk. Sci Rep. 2024 Sep 13;14(1):21378.
13. Vinceti M, Dennert G, Crespi CM, Zwahlen M, Brinkman M, Zeegers MPA, Horneber M, D'Amico R, Del Giovane C. Selenium for preventing cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD005195.
14. Combs GF, Clark LC, Turnbull BW. An analysis of cancer prevention by selenium. BioFactors. 2001 Jan;14(1–4):153–9.
15. Kenfield SA, Van Blarigan EL, DuPre N, Stampfer MJ, L. Giovannucci E, Chan JM. Selenium Supplementation and Prostate Cancer Mortality. JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2014 Dec 12;107(1):dju360–dju360.
16. Brozmanová J, Mániková D, Vlčková V, Chovanec M. Selenium: a double-edged sword for defense and offence in cancer. Arch Toxicol. 2010 Dec;84(12):919–38.
17. Ghose A, Fleming J, Harrison PR. Selenium and signal transduction: Roads to cell death and anti‐tumour activity. BioFactors. 2001 Jan;14(1–4):127–33.
18. Jameson MB, Evans SO. Adding Selenium to Chemotherapy and Radiation in Haematological Malignancies: Clinical Trials Are Justified. Acta Haematol. 2014;132(2):254–5.
19. Asfour IA, El-Tehewi MM, Ahmed MH, Abdel-Sattar MA, Moustafa NN, Hegab HM, et al. High-Dose Sodium Selenite Can Induce Apoptosis of Lymphoma Cells in Adult Patients with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2009 Mar;127(3):200–10.
20. Ehudin MA, Golla U, Trivedi D, Potlakayala SD, Rudrabhatla SV, Desai D, et al. Therapeutic Benefits of Selenium in Hematological Malignancies. IJMS. 2022 Jul 19;23(14):7972.
21. Stevens J, Waters R, Sieniawska C, Kassam S, Montoto S, Fitzgibbon J, et al. Serum selenium concentration at diagnosis and outcome in patients with haematological malignancies. Br J Haematol. 2011 Aug;154(4):448–56.
22. Jiang J, Chen B, Tang B, Wei Q. Selenium in Prostate Cancer: Prevention, Progression, and Treatment. Pharmaceuticals. 2023 Sep 5;16(9):1250.
23. Pietrzak S, Marciniak W, Derkacz R, Matuszczak M, Kiljańczyk A, Baszuk P, et al. Correlation between Selenium and Zinc Levels and Survival among Prostate Cancer Patients. Nutrients. 2024 Feb 14;16(4):527.
24. Szwiec M, Marciniak W, Derkacz R, Huzarski T, Gronwald J, Cybulski C, et al. Serum Selenium Level Predicts 10-Year Survival after Breast Cancer. Nutrients. 2021 Mar 16;13(3):953.
25. Guo CH, Shih MY, Chung CH, Lin YC, Fan CT, Peng CL, et al. Fish Oil and Selenium with Doxorubicin Modulates Expression of Fatty Acid Receptors and Selenoproteins, and Targets Multiple Anti-Cancer Signaling in Triple-negative Breast Cancer Tumors. Int J Med Sci. 2022;19(14):2044–57.
26. Lubiński J, Marciniak W, Muszynska M, Jaworowska E, Sulikowski M, Jakubowska A, et al. Serum selenium levels and the risk of progression of laryngeal cancer. Deng D, editor. PLoS ONE. 2018 Jan 5;13(1):e0184873.
27. Kluza M, Paszek S, Kluza K, Januszek S, Potocka N, Skrzypa M, et al. An Assessment of Serum Selenium Concentration in Women with Ovarian Cancer. Nutrients. 2023 Feb 7;15(4):850.
28. Złowocka-Perłowska E, Baszuk P, Marciniak W, Derkacz R, Tołoczko-Grabarek A, Słojewski M, et al. Blood and Serum Se and Zn Levels and 10-Year Survival of Patients after a Diagnosis of Kidney Cancer. Biomedicines. 2024 Aug 6;12(8):1775.
29. Rogoża-Janiszewska E, Malińska K, Baszuk P, Marciniak W, Derkacz R, Lener M, et al. Serum Selenium Level and 10-Year Survival after Melanoma. Biomedicines. 2021 Aug 11;9(8):991.
30. Lubiński J, Lener MR, Marciniak W, Pietrzak S, Derkacz R, Cybulski C, et al. Serum Essential Elements and Survival after Cancer Diagnosis. Nutrients. 2023 Jun 2;15(11):2611.
31. Rayman MP, Infante HG, Sargent M. Food-chain selenium and human health: spotlight on speciation. Br J Nutr. 2008 Aug;100(2):238–53.
32. Pfister C, Schoenemann J. Selenium in Cancer Rehabilitation—A Retrospective Study from a Specialized Clinic. Nutrients. 2023 Sep 1;15(17):3827.
33. Shen F, Cai WS, Li JL, Feng Z, Cao J, Xu B. The Association Between Serum Levels of Selenium, Copper, and Magnesium with Thyroid Cancer: a Meta-analysis. Biol Trace Elem Res. 2015 Oct;167(2):225–35.
34. Zwolak I, Zaporowska H. Selenium interactions and toxicity: a review: Selenium interactions and toxicity. Cell Biol Toxicol. 2012 Feb;28(1):31–46.
35. Al-Mubarak AA, Van Der Meer P, Bomer N. Selenium, Selenoproteins, and Heart Failure: Current Knowledge and Future Perspective. Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2021 Jun;18(3):122–31.
36. Watanabe S, Usui M. Impact of Selenium Deficiency on Clinical Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Heart Failure Patients in Japan. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol. 2023 Dec 31;69(6):479–84.
37. Sharabati I, Qafesha RM, Hindawi MD, Amro S, Ayesh BM. The efficacy and safety of selenium supplementation versus placebo in the treatment of Graves’ orbitopathy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised controlled trials. Clinical Endocrinology. 2024 Dec;101(6):669–81.
38. Li N, Zhang Z, Shen L, Song G, Tian J, Liu Q, Ni J. Selenium metabolism and selenoproteins function in brain and encephalopathy. Sci China Life Sci. 2024 Nov 12.
39. Pillai R, Uyehara‐Lock JH, Bellinger FP. Selenium and selenoprotein function in brain disorders. IUBMB Life. 2014 Apr;66(4):229–39.
40. Vinceti M, Chiari A, Eichmüller M, Rothman KJ, Filippini T, Malagoli C, et al. A selenium species in cerebrospinal fluid predicts conversion to Alzheimer’s dementia in persons with mild cognitive impairment. Alz Res Therapy. 2017 Dec;9(1):100.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Artur Fabijański, Anna Konarska, Anna Machowiak, Barbara Ufnalska, Justyna Lisiecka, Mateusz Janik, Michał Nowak, Joanna Rychlewska-Duda, Wojciech Firlej, Adriana Dukacz
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The periodical offers access to content in the Open Access system under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 98
Number of citations: 0
