Abstract
Selenium still represents a matter of debate in the scientific community. Bionanotechnology has introduced a whole new perspective on selenium use in animal nutrition. In recent years, attention has been focused on selenium nanoparticles prepared by chemical synthesis. Societal pressure directs research in a “greenway” that is more eco-friendly. Biogenic selenium nanoparticles thus represent a new space for research in the use of this new form of selenium in animal nutrition. Recent research shows that biogenic selenium nanoparticles have low toxicity, improve antioxidant status, and increase the body’s immune response. However, their benefits may be much greater, as numerous in vitro studies have shown. In addition, biogenic selenium nanoparticles possess antimicrobial, antifungal, and anticancer activities. Further research should answer questions on the use of biogenic selenium nanoparticles as a feed supplement in individual categories of livestock, and their safety in terms of long-term supplementation.
Highlights
The element selenium was first described by the Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1818, who found this element in the mud at the bottom of a sulfuric acid preparation
According to the results presented in publications in the field of human medicine, the Czech Republic was ranked among the countries with a low selenium intake, those which had populations that were found to have selenium concentrations below the European average
Many studies have described the bioavailability of different chemical forms of selenium [51,56,63,64], e.g., diets enriched with the organic Se increased Se concentrations in animal tissues compared to animals supplemented with inorganic Se
Summary
The element selenium was first described by the Swedish chemist Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1818, who found this element in the mud at the bottom of a sulfuric acid preparation. All selenoproteins that are known to play a role in oxidoreductase intervening enzymes are implicated in multiple metabolic pathways, e.g., the maintenance of intracellular redox status, free radical scavenging, and repair of oxidized lipids [10]. These discoveries were the beginning of more extensive studies on the role and importance of this element for human and animal health and nutrition. The inorganic forms of Se (i.e., selenates and selenites) are soluble in water and, usually, they present in this form in water, or they can be found in different minerals [12] They are known to be toxic to biological systems even in low concentrations [13]. In the form of organic bindings, Se occurs as selenides [12], and these compounds are considered to be the most stable [14]
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