Selenium - its role in physiology and endocrinology and as organoselenium compounds in oncology: A minireview.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review summarizing biochemical mechanisms and existing literature without systematic methodology
PubMed 39572874 · doi:10.2478/enr-2024-0028
What was done
This narrative minireview summarizes literature and author experimental experience regarding the physiological, endocrinological, and oncological roles of selenium. It outlines the biochemical mechanisms of selenoproteins, including glutathione peroxidases and iodothyronine deiodinases, and reviews the association of selenium with autoimmune thyroid disorders and potential uses of organoselenium compounds and selenium nanoparticles in cancer therapy.
What was found
The abstract provides a conceptual overview and does not report quantitative data or empirical effect estimates. It notes that selenium functions in organisms as seleno-L-cysteine or seleno-L-cystine within active sites of enzymes such as glutathione peroxidase (catalyzing reduction of peroxides to water or alcohols) and iodothyronine deiodinases (mediating thyroid hormone metabolism). It also discusses selenium deficiency links to autoimmune thyropathies and the therapeutic potential of organoselenium compounds and nanoparticles.
Why it matters
It provides clinicians and students with a high-level summary linking basic selenoprotein biochemistry to thyroid hormone metabolism, immune regulation, and prospective anticancer strategies.
Limits
This is an unsystematic narrative review rather than a primary study or systematic review. The abstract provides no search methodology, study counts, sample sizes, or quantitative data, limiting the ability to independently evaluate the strength of individual clinical claims.
Cited by
- supports Selenium supports the enzymatic conversion of T4 to T3 and lowers thyroid peroxidase (TPO) autoantibody levels in Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
- supports Selenium is required for glutathione synthesis, the conversion of T4 to T3 thyroid hormone, and reducing thyroid autoantibodies.