Selenium intake and multiple health-related outcomes: an umbrella review of meta-analyses.

2023-09-13
Frontiers in nutrition 10
- Puze Wang
- Bo Chen
- Yin Huang
- Jin Li
- Dehong Cao
- Zeyu Chen
- Jinze Li
- Biao Ran
- Jiahao Yang
- Ruyi Wang
- Qiang Wei
- Qiang Dong
- Liangren Liu

PubMed: 37781125
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1263853

Study Design

Type: Review
Methods: Umbrella review of published systematic reviews with pooled data and meta-analyses

Selenium is an essential trace metalloid element that is associated with fundamental importance to human health. Our umbrella review aimed to evaluate the quality of evidence, validity, and biases in the relationship between selenium intake and health-related outcomes according to published systematic reviews with pooled data and meta-analyses. Selenium intake is associated with a decreased risk of digestive system cancers, all-cause mortality, depression, and Keshan disease, when in children reduce the risk of Kashin-Beck disease. Additionally, selenium supplementation can improve sperm quality, polycystic ovary syndrome, autoimmune thyroid disease, cardiovascular disease, and infective outcomes. Selenium supplementation also has relationship with a decreased concentration of serum lipids including total cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, no evidence has shown that selenium is associated with better outcomes among patients in intensive care units. Furthermore, selenium intake may be related with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes and non-melanoma skin cancers. Moreover, most of included studies are evaluated as low quality according to our evidence assessment. Based on our study findings and the limited advantages of selenium intake, it is not recommended to receive extra supplementary selenium for general populations, and selenium supplementation should not be continued in patients whose selenium-deficient status has been corrected.

Research Insights

Selenium→Improved Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
selenium supplementation can improve ... autoimmune thyroid disease
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Selenium→Improved Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
selenium supplementation can improve ... polycystic ovary syndrome
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Selenium→Improved Sperm Quality
selenium supplementation can improve sperm quality
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Selenium→Reduced All-Cause Mortality
Selenium intake is associated with a decreased risk of ... all-cause mortality
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Selenium→Reduced Blood Cholesterol
Selenium supplementation also has relationship with a decreased concentration of serum lipids including total cholesterol
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Selenium→Reduced Cardiovascular Disease Risk
selenium supplementation can improve ... cardiovascular disease
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Selenium→Reduced Depression
Selenium intake is associated with a decreased risk of ... depression
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Selenium→Reduced Infective Outcome
selenium supplementation can improve ... infective outcomes
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Selenium→Reduced Intensive Care Unit Outcome
no evidence has shown that selenium is associated with better outcomes among patients in intensive care units
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Selenium→Reduced Keshan Disease Risk
Selenium intake is associated with a decreased risk of ... Keshan disease
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Selenium→Reduced Risk of Digestive System Cancer
Selenium intake is associated with a decreased risk of digestive system cancers
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Selenium→Reduced Risk of Kashin-Beck Disease
when in children reduce the risk of Kashin-Beck disease
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Large
Selenium→Reduced Risk of Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer
selenium intake may be related with a higher risk of ... non-melanoma skin cancers
Effect
Harmful
Effect size
Moderate
Selenium→Reduced Risk of Type 2 Diabetes
selenium intake may be related with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes
Effect
Harmful
Effect size
Moderate
Selenium→Reduced Very Low-Density Lipoprotein
Selenium supplementation also has relationship with a decreased concentration of serum lipids including ... very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small