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Nutrition and Immunity pp 159–165Cite as

Selenium and Immunity

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Abstract

The immune system is capable of identifying and employing appropriate mechanisms to neutralize, eliminate, or metabolize the foreign particle. In this manner, the immune system helps the body to preserve its integrity against environmental agents. Substantial evidence exists that adequate intake of micronutrients including selenium either through the diet or with supplements can improve the health status and immunity. Selenium is an essential micronutrient. It is a structural component of the amino acid selenocysteine that is incorporated into 25 selenoproteins. Glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductases (TrxRs) are examples of selenoproteins with antioxidant features. These proteins interfere with oxidative stress and thereby play an important role in the regulation of the immune system and inflammatory processes. Selenium deficiency is common among most immunocompromised patients and may explain increased vulnerability of these patients to viral and bacterial infections.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon

    Germaine Nkengfack

  2. Dietetics and Nutrition Experts Team (DiNET), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Dschang, Cameroon

    Germaine Nkengfack

  3. Department of Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences, Muenster, Germany

    Heike Englert

  4. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Science, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

    Mozhdeh Haddadi

  5. Chemical Engineering-Biotechnology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Amirkabir University, Tehran, Iran

    Mozhdeh Haddadi

Authors
  1. Germaine Nkengfack
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  2. Heike Englert
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  3. Mozhdeh Haddadi
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Dietitians and Nutrition Experts Team (DiNET), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran

    Maryam Mahmoudi

  2. Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran

    Nima Rezaei

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Nkengfack, G., Englert, H., Haddadi, M. (2019). Selenium and Immunity. In: Mahmoudi, M., Rezaei, N. (eds) Nutrition and Immunity. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16073-9_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16073-9_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-16072-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-16073-9

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