Abstract
Selenium is a trace element essential for human health that has received considerable attention due to its nutritional value. Selenium’s bioactivity and toxicity are closely related to its chemical form, and several studies have suggested that the organic form of selenium (i.e., selenomethionine) is more bioavailable and less toxic than its inorganic form (i.e., sodium selenite). Probiotics, especially Bifidobacteriium and Lactobacillus spp., have received increasing attention in recent years, due to their intestinal microbial balancing effects and nutraceutical benefits. Recently, the bioconversion (a.k.a biotransformation) of various bioactive molecules (e.g., minerals, primary and secondary metabolites) using probiotics has been investigated to improve substrate biofunctional properties. However, there have been few reports of inorganic selenium conversion into its organic form using Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus spp. Here we report that the biosynthesis of organic selenium was accomplished using the whole cell bioconversion of sodium selenite under controlled Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4 culture conditions. The total amount of organic and inorganic selenium was quantified using an inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometer (ICP-AES). The selenium species were separated via anion-exchange chromatography and analyzed with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Our findings indicated that the maximum level of organic selenium was 207.5 µg/g in selenium-enriched B. bifidum BGN4. Selenomethionine was the main organic selenium in selenium-enriched B. bifidum BGN4 (169.6 µg/g). Considering that B. bifidum BGN4 is a commercial probiotic strain used in the functional food industry with clinically proven beneficial effects, selenium-enriched B. bifidum BGN4 has the potential to provide dual healthy functions as a daily supplement of selenium and regulator of intestinal bacteria. This is the first report on the production of organic selenium using B. bifidum spp.
Highlights
Selenium is a micronutrient essential to the maintenance of human health that plays an important role in human diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases [1,2,3]
After the inorganic selenium is deposited within the microorganism, the molecule is converted into organic selenium by the microorganism
Due to the microorganisms’ poor inorganic selenium tolerance, the growth of selenium-enriched cells was inhibited by a small quantity of sodium selenite
Summary
Selenium is a micronutrient essential to the maintenance of human health that plays an important role in human diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases [1,2,3]. Selenium deficiency can cause Keshan disease and Kashin–Beck disease, both of which have high fatality rates [4,5]. Wei et al [6]. Molecules 2018, 23, x FOR PEER REVIEW [4,5]. Wei et al that [6] demonstrated that intake dietarywas selenium useful for of theType suppression of Type demonstrated dietary selenium usefulintake for thewas suppression 2 diabetes, both. The US recommended daily of allowance of onset and development.
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