Selenium Nanoparticles in Critical Illness—Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Selenium (Se) has important anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, plays an important role in the immune system through redox balance, and is part of selenoproteins. In patients who are critically ill, Se supplementation causes alterations in inflammatory markers such as procalcitonin, leukocyte count, albumin, prealbumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), inflammatory cytokines, and cholesterol. The decrease in Se levels leads to a reduction in the levels of various selenoenzymes, in particular glutathione peroxidase and selenoprotein P. These antioxidant selenoproteins play a protective role against the lipoperoxidation of cell membranes and also participate in the process of regulating the inflammatory response. Currently, there are no conclusive data that allow us to affirm the existence of a significant reduction in mortality with the use of Se in intensive care. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) can be used as dietary supplements or therapeutic agents due to their low toxicity and better bioavailability compared to traditional Se supplementation. In this review, we focus on the current state of research on SeNPs and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as a therapy for patients who are seriously ill, without the toxic effects of other Se species.