THE ROLE OF THE ANTIOXIDANT MICRONUTRIENT SELENIUM IN OXIDATIVE STRESS

Abstract

Selenium is considered a micronutrient of great essentiality to humans, since when incorporated into selenoproteins it can perform important functions in the body, for example participating in antioxidant defense. This mineral is essential in microquantities for humans. This is a narrative review of the literature, carried out based on articles available in electronic databases about the antioxidant role of Selenium in oxidative stress. The descriptors used were “Selenium”, “Oxidative stress” and “Antioxidant”, as well as their equivalents in the English language. The actions of antioxidant mechanisms can be in different ways: preventing the formation of free radicals or non-radical species, preventing their action or, even, favoring the repair and reconstitution of damaged biological structures. Selenium, when incorporated into selenoproteins, can perform important functions in the body, for example participating in antioxidant defense. The antioxidant function is exerted mainly by GPx and selenoprotein P. This study concluded that Selenium is an antioxidant micronutrient that plays an important role in combating oxidative stress. Therefore, it is important to carry out more research in order to increasingly clarify how this mineral performs this function in the body, since in turn this antioxidant mechanism can help in the prevention and promotion of chronic non-communicable diseases.