Selenium is an essential
mineral naturally found in soil, water, and some of the food. As an
antioxidant, it is one of the necessary
trace elements in human body and has been suggested as a dietary supplement for health benefit. Although the human body only needs a trace amount of
selenium every day, plenty of recent studies have revealed that
selenium is indispensable for maintaining normal functions of metabolism. In this study, we reviewed the
antioxidant role of nutritional supplementation of
selenium in the management of major chronic metabolic disorders, including hyperlipidaemia, hyperglycaemia, and hyperphenylalaninemia. Clinical significance of
selenium deficiency in chronic
metabolic diseases was elaborated, while clinical and experimental observations of dietary supplementation of
selenium in treating chronic
metabolic diseases, such as diabetes,
arteriosclerosis, and
phenylketonuria, were summarized. Toxicity and recommended dose of
selenium were discussed. The mechanism of action was also proposed via inspecting the interaction of molecular networks and predicting target
protein such as
xanthine dehydrogenase in various diseases. Future direction in studying the role of
selenium in metabolic disorders was also highlighted. In conclusion, highlighting the beneficial role of
selenium in this review would advance our knowledge of the dietary management of chronic
metabolic diseases.