The importance of selenium in food enrichment processes. A comprehensive review

Abstract

Selenium is an essential element that determines the proper life functions of human and animal organisms. The content of selenium in food varies depending on the region and soil conditions. Therefore, the main source is a properly selected diet. However, in many countries, there are shortages of this element in the soil and local food. Too low an amount of this element in food can lead to many adverse changes in the body. The consequence of this may also be the occurrence of numerous potentially life-threatening diseases. Therefore, it is very important to properly introduce methods that condition the supplementation of the appropriate chemical form of this element, especially in areas with deficient selenium content. This review aims to summarize the published literature on the characterization of different types of selenium-enriched foods. At the same time, legal regulations and prospects for the future related to the production of food enriched with this element are presented. It should be noted that there are limitations and concerns with the production of such food due to the narrow safety range between the necessary and the toxic dose of this element. Therefore, selenium has been treated with special care for a very long time. For this reason, the presented mechanisms of production processes related to increasing the scale of selenium supplementation should be constantly monitored. Appropriate monitoring and development of the technological process for the production of selenium-enriched food is very important. Such food should ensure consumer safety and repeatability of the obtained product. Understanding the mechanisms and possibilities of selenium accumulation by plants and animals is one of the most important directions in the development of modern bromatology and the science of supplementation. This is particularly important in the case of rational nutrition and supplementing the human diet with an essential element such as selenium. Food technology is facing these challenges today.

Keywords: Bioaccumulation; Selenium; Selenium-enriched products; Supplementation.