Abstract
The element, Selenium (Se), has an essential nutritive and biological role as a trace mineral known primarily for its vital antioxidant functions as a constituent of the selenoenzyme, glutathione peroxidase. However, Se also has a much more global biological impact beyond antioxidant function. The objective of this review is to present an overview of prior research on the extra-antioxidant effects of Se with a key focus on skeletal muscle mitochondrial energetics. Cognizance of these additional functions of Se is requisite when formulating and recommending dietary supplementation of Se in humans or animals. Chief amongst its myriad of biological contributions, Se influences mitochondrial capacity and function and, subsequently, muscular health. Dietary Se supplementation has been shown to increase skeletal muscle mitochondrial volume density and within some cell lines, Se treatment increases mitochondrial biogenesis and respiratory capacity. In addition, the selenoproteins H, N, W, and O and deiodinases exhibit varying effects on mitochondrial and/or skeletal muscle function. Selenoprotein H enhances mitochondrial biogenesis whereas selenoproteins N and W appear to influence muscle calcium homeostasis which impacts mitochondrial function. Moreover, selenoprotein O's intramitochondrial residence facilitates Se's redox function. Deiodinases regulate thyroid hormone activation which impacts muscle cell regeneration, metabolism, and reactive oxygen species production. Although the precise relationships between dietary Se and skeletal muscle mitochondria remain unclear, previous research constitutes a firm foundation that portends promising new discoveries by future investigations.
Introduction
Elemental selenium (Se) was discovered in 1817 by Jöns Jacob Berzelius who happened upon the element when analyzing an unknown impurity present in manufactured sulfuric acid samples (). He named the compound selenium after the Greek word for moon, selene. Upon its discovery, Se was added to the periodic table as atomic number 34 with a molecular weight of 78.971 Da. Since the observance of Se in 1817, numerous reports have revealed its necessity for maintenance of several bodily functions. As such, Se is now considered an essential mineral for humans and animals. Importantly, acute or chronic Se toxicity and deficiency can occur at high and low dietary intake levels, respectively, both of which are accompanied by negative health outcomes. Conversely, balanced dietary Se intake is highly beneficial and well known for its vital antioxidant properties.
Dietary Se can be found in inorganic (e.g., selenite and selenate salts) and organic (e.g., selenomethionine, selenocysteine, and Se-enriched yeast) forms, and the absorption and metabolism of Se differs between the forms. Bioavailability of inorganic Se may be lower than organic Se. Dairy cows fed 3 mg Se/d in the form of Se-yeast had a greater increase in Se concentration in whole blood and had numerically elevated Se concentrations in skeletal muscle, heart, and liver compared to those fed 3 mg Se/d in the form of sodium selenite (). Rats fed 1, 2, or 4 mg Se/kg diet as selenomethionine had greater Se concentrations in muscle compared to rats fed the same amount of Se as sodium selenite (). In first parity gilts, Se-yeast supplementation resulted in greater serum Se concentrations at breeding and 90 d post breeding than sodium selenite supplementation, but not at weaning (). However, Se-yeast supplementation did result in a greater Se content in the loin of the gilts and their progeny immediately after birth and at weanling age (). Thus, the form of dietary Se may impact the availability of Se and the incorporation of Se into tissues which is important to consider when evaluating results of published works. Regardless of species, Se toxicity must also be considered when determining the form of dietary Se. Organic Se supplementation has been shown to be less toxic than inorganic forms such as groundwater selenate, which has a higher toxicity and should be avoided (). However, organic Se toxicity is still a potential concern. Some studies suggest intakes >90 μg Se/day (in humans) were associated with greater incidences of diabetes, skin cancer, and prostate cancer (). More research is encouraged to determine quantitative recommendations of each source of dietary Se to optimize health and performance outcomes.
One of Se's most well-known biological roles is as a constituent of several glutathione peroxidase (GPx) isozymes which have an array of functions, including protecting against oxidative stress, minimizing inflammation, and regulating cell death. Examples include GPx1, the most abundant and ubiquitously expressed isozyme which functions to detoxify hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to nontoxic water (H2O) and GPx4, which has a strong affinity for lipid hydroperoxides and regulates ferroptosis (). Colloquially known as the “powerhouse of the cell,” mitochondria are the primary source of cellular energy, or adenosine triphosphate (ATP), in the body. During aerobic ATP production, electrons are transferred along a network of protein complexes (I–IV) within the inner mitochondrial membrane known as the electron transfer system (ETS; Figure 1). The movement of electrons along the ETS allows protons to be pumped into the intermembrane space, creating an electrochemical gradient which powers complex V, or ATP synthase. The movement of electrons is not without fault; as a normal byproduct of aerobic ATP production, electrons may leak from the ETS before reaching the final electron acceptor, oxygen. These free electrons may bind with an unpaired oxygen molecule, creating the primary reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide (). Within the mitochondria, leaking electrons resulting in ROS production occurs predominantly at complexes I and III of the ETS in a resting state, though superoxide may also be produced by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (). When ROS production overwhelms antioxidant capacity, oxidative stress occurs. The GPx family of enzymes plays a critical role in the prevention of ROS-induced oxidative stress, especially in situations of high stress or energy demand such as during an inflammatory response to injury or pathogens. Thus, both Se and the mitochondria are key biological modulators of skeletal muscle energetics and oxidative stress.
Figure 1
While the antioxidant capabilities of Se have been a popular and integral subject of investigation, there are a vast array of additional biological roles of Se, some which may be extensions of antioxidant activity but others which are unrelated to Se's redox role that may be overlooked. In fact, dietary Se may serve to promote mitochondrial biogenesis, and Se is a component of at least 25 different selenoproteins which have a wide variety of physiological activities. Identification of these other branching properties of Se serves to provide a more comprehensive view of the benefits of dietary Se. Although kidneys have the highest concentration of Se (relative to wet weight), skeletal muscle contains approximately 50% of the body's total Se (). Therefore, it may be especially important to investigate the role(s) of Se within skeletal muscle. The aim of this review is to characterize the influence of Se on muscle function as it relates to mitochondrial energetics. We intend to demonstrate several lesser-known ways Se is critically intertwined in skeletal muscle mitochondrial health.
Mitochondrial biogenesis and capacity
Mitochondria are essential organelles for many biological processes due to their role as generators of ATP. The process by which mitochondria produce ATP is known as oxidative phosphorylation (Figure 1). Glucose is metabolized in the cytosol of the cell to pyruvate. In the presence of oxygen, pyruvate is then transported into the mitochondria where it is oxidized to acetyl CoA, which enters the Krebs, or citric acid cycle in the mitochondrial matrix. The byproducts of the Krebs cycle, reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH2), provide high-energy electrons to the ETS which resides in the inner mitochondrial membrane. As electrons are transferred across the complexes of the electron transfer system, protons are pumped into the intermembrane space of the mitochondria and a proton gradient is generated. Protons then flow through ATP synthase along the chemical gradient to combine with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate (Pi), creating ATP (Figure 1). Importantly, mitochondria play pivotal regulatory energetic roles that determine cell growth, metabolism, stress responses, and even cell death.
A scarce amount of previous research has yielded intriguing results showing that Se supplementation increases skeletal muscle mitochondria. Horses that received 0.3 mg Se/kg dry matter (DM) had greater citrate synthase activity in the gluteus medius muscle at rest compared to horses supplemented with 0.1 mg Se/kg DM [Se supplemented as Se-yeast; Figure 2 ()]. However, cytochrome c oxidase activity was unaffected by Se supplementation. Citrate synthase activity is a commonly used proxy for mitochondrial volume density while cytochrome c oxidase activity provides a measure of mitochondrial function (, ). Therefore, these results indicate that horses had greater mitochondrial volume density after Se supplementation but no apparent change in mitochondrial function. Somewhat conflictingly, young, male human subjects supplemented 180 μg/d of selenomethionine while endurance training for 10 wk had a lesser increase in vastus lateralis muscle mitochondrial content than non-supplemented individuals in training (). However, Se supplementation while endurance training caused a greater increase in the size of the individual mitochondria whereas training alone resulted in an increase of the number of mitochondria (). This suggests a preservation of existing mitochondria due to Se supplementation rather than resynthesis of more small, less mature mitochondria. Importantly, with training, ROS serve as signaling molecules to drive muscle adaptation and, as an antioxidant, Se might limit ROS signals for mitochondrial adaptation. Additionally, the impact of exercise training in combination with Se supplementation may yield varying results dependent upon the intensity of the training protocol. However, in the equine study mentioned above, horses supplemented Se had an increase in skeletal muscle mitochondrial volume density regardless of whether they were untrained or undergoing submaximal training (). Impacts of dietary Se supplementation on mitochondrial biogenesis in vivo during various exercise training regimes warrants further investigation.
Figure 2
It is possible that size and number of mitochondria increase with Se supplementation due to the antioxidant activity of Se protecting cells and organelles from oxidative stress. Supplementation of sodium selenite in mice protected kidneys from cadmium-induced oxidative stress and prevented apoptosis through mitochondrial pathways (
Alternatively, other research presents the possibility that Se induces mitochondrial biogenesis, or the process of increasing mitochondrial cell numbers from pre-existing mitochondria. Overexpression of the selenoprotein H (SELENOH) gene in murine hippocampal HT22 neuronal cells resulted in greater levels of the “master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis,” peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α), as well as nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam) within the nuclear fraction compared to vector-transfected cells [Figure 2 (
During exercise, PGC-1α can be activated through two primary pathways: calcium (Ca2+) calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV)/calcineurin A (CnA) and cAMP response element-binding protein [CREB; Figure 3 (
Figure 3

The initiation of muscle contraction followed by the two primary pathways, calcium (Ca2+) calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV)/calcineurin A (CnA) and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) that activate the PGC-1α gene which act to increase mitochondrial biogenesis (
In addition to increasing mitochondrial biogenesis, Se appears to increase mitochondrial respiratory capacity. When incubated with sodium selenite or selenomethionine, placental tissue and Swan-71, JEG-3, and BeWo trophoblast-like cells exhibited increased respiratory capacity (
Selenoproteins
Many biological effects of Se are mediated by Se-containing proteins, also known as selenoproteins, which generally contain at least one selenocysteine (a Se-containing amino acid and the main biological form of Se) and often serve oxidoreductase functions. This review will discuss four known selenoproteins that may mediate some facet of skeletal muscle mitochondrial function: SELENOH, Selenoprotein N (SELENON), Selenoprotein W (SELENOW), and Selenoprotein O (SELENOO). Additionally, we briefly review the selenoproteins type 2 and type 3 deiodinases (D2 and D3) due to their influence on skeletal muscle regeneration, myogenesis, and metabolism. Previous reports present conflicting results regarding the effect of dietary Se on production of selenoproteins. Broiler chicks supplemented Se via sodium selenite had greater expression of selenoprotein N1, W1, and O in the pectoral muscle compared to non-supplemented chicks (
Selenoprotein H
Selenoprotein H was initially identified using bioinformatics methods developed around selenocysteine insertion sequence (SECIS) elements of human genomes (
Selenoprotein N1
Selenoprotein N was originally characterized by bioinformatics methods in 1999 (
Selenoprotein N1 serves to regulate Ca2+ and redox homeostasis by interaction with and activation of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transport ATPase 2b [SERCA2b; Figure 4 (
Figure 4

The effects of selenoprotein N1 (SELENON) and selenoprotein W (SELENOW) knockout/deficiency in skeletal muscle. To initiate muscle contraction, an action potential travels down the Transverse tubule (T-tubule) to activate voltage-gated channels known as dihydropyridine receptors (DHPR) triggering the ryanodine receptor (RyR) to release Ca2+. When stimulated with 100 mM caffeine, myofibers from SELENON deficient mice had reduced amplitude of Ca2+ release which suggests that RyR of the sarcoplasmic reticulum may be impaired with loss of SELENON [yellow X (
The actions of SELENON are also thought to influence mitochondrial function because SELENON is localized near mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs) of the SR. Along with the SR, mitochondria assist in maintaining Ca2+ homeostasis. The MAMs serve several functions, one of which being that the SR and mitochondria can transfer Ca2+ at MAMs [Figure 4 (
Absence of SELENON in mice resulted in decreased mitochondrial respiratory capacities in the tibialis anterior, diaphragm, and quadriceps muscles compared to wild-type mice (
Selenoprotein W
One myopathy which is caused by Se deficiency is white muscle disease within young livestock animals. The disease was discovered to be linked to Se deficiency in 1958 (
Animals with the peracute form of white muscle disease may present with dysrhythmias, exhaustion, and cardiovascular collapse while animals with the subacute form may have dysphagia, muscular weakness, muscular pain, and more (
Selenoprotein O
Similar to the previously mentioned selenoproteins, SELENOO was originally identified as a selenoprotein using bioinformatics (
Deiodinases
Thyroid hormone (TH) serves several critical regulatory functions, including the regulation of satellite cells, or muscle stem cells. Selenoenzymes D2 and D3 are present in skeletal muscle, and their expression influences intracellular TH levels consequently impacting stem cell proliferation and differentiation. The activation, proliferation, fusion, and differentiation of normally quiescent satellite cells is necessary for muscle fiber regeneration following injury. Type 3 deiodinase deactivates thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3). Specifically, D3 is highly expressed in proliferating myoblasts but lowly expressed in differentiated myoblasts (
The regulation of conversion of T4 to T3 by D2 may impact mitochondria, as well. Low plasma levels of T3, T4, or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulate the hypothalamus to release thyrotropin-releasing hormone which, in turn, stimulates the anterior pituitary to release TSH, promoting T4 release from the thyroid. On the contrary, high plasma levels of T3, T4, and TSH serve as negative feedback signals to both the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary. Knockout of the Dio2 gene resulted in elevated serum TSH levels due to the lack of negative feedback from elevated T4 (
Future directions
Current literature suggests a close link between skeletal muscle mitochondria and Se. It appears that several of the impacts of Se on mitochondrial function may be extensions of the antioxidant properties of Se while other effects of Se stem from the more elusive functions of selenoproteins. Specifically, Se increases mitochondrial biogenesis and function, but this could be, in part, due to antioxidant protection. On the other hand, selenoproteins like SELENON and SELENOW may regulate muscular Ca2+ signaling and SELENOO resides in the mitochondria and could serve redox functions. However, the precise mechanisms of the Se-mitochondria relationship remain unknown, therefore it is difficult to surmise specific supplementation recommendations to optimize function of skeletal muscle mitochondria. Additionally, much of the literature reviewed in the present manuscript has investigated the impacts of Se or selenoproteins on mitochondria in cell or rodent models with a few other papers focusing on horses (
Conclusion
There is minimal current literature on the effects of Se on skeletal muscle mitochondria beyond its antioxidant role(s). However, several studies provide multiple theories and potential avenues for Se influence on mitochondria. Selenium may increase mitochondrial biogenesis, but the magnitude of this impact could differ by tissue, exercise intensity and/or duration, and source of dietary Se. Selenoproteins have a wide range of functions which are not fully elucidated but could influence mitochondrial function. Some of these potential functions of selenoproteins include promoting satellite cell differentiation, mitochondrial biogenesis, redox functions, and regulating Ca2+ homeostasis which influences mitochondrial capacity. This review had the specific focus of outlining the non-antioxidant influence of Se on muscle function as it relates to mitochondrial energetics. Therefore, the authors acknowledge that, due to the scope of this review, there is additional existing literature on the impacts of Se that was regretfully not included in the current paper. Nevertheless, the compelling literature covered in the current review demonstrates several ways in which Se impacts skeletal muscle health and mitochondrial function. These results highlight the importance of future studies to classify the exact mechanisms behind the influence of Se on mitochondria because there is much more to Se beyond antioxidants.
Funding
Publication fees were provided by the Texas A&M Department of Animal Science.
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Statements
Author contributions
SW-S conceived the subject of the review and provided direction on the content of the manuscript. LW, PS, and SW-S wrote the manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Dr. Thomas Welsh, Jr. for his review of the manuscript and helpful input prior to submission.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
- ADP
Adenosine diphosphate
- AMP
Adenosine monophosphate
- ATP
Adenosine triphosphate
- CaM
Calmodulin
- CaMKIV
Calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV
- CnA
Calcineurin A
- CREB
cAMP response element-binding protein
- D2
Type 2 deiodinase
- D3
Type 3 deiodinase
- DHPR
Dihydropyridine receptor
- DM
Dry matter
- ER
Endoplasmic reticulum
- ERR
Estrogen-related receptors
- ETS
Electron transfer system
- FADH2
Flavin adenine dinucleotide
- GPx
Glutathione peroxidase
- MAM
Mitochondria-associated membrane
- MAPK
Mitogen-activated protein kinase
- MyHC
Myosin heavy chain
- NADH
Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
- NADPH
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
- NRF
Nuclear respiratory factor
- PGC-1α
Proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α
- Pi
Inorganic phosphate
- PPARα
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α
- ROS
Reactive oxygen species
- Se
Selenium
- SELENOH
Selenoprotein H
- SELENON
Selenoprotein N
- SELENOO
Selenoprotein O
- SELENOW
Selenoprotein W
- SERCA
Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transport ATPase
- SOD2
Superoxide dismutase 2
- SR
Sarcoplasmic reticulum
- T3, 3, 5
3′-triiodothyronine
- T4
Thyroxine
- Tfam
Mitochondrial transcription factor A
- TH
Thyroid hormone
- TSH
Thyroid stimulating hormone
- UCP3
Uncoupling protein 3.
Abbreviations
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Summary
Keywords
selenium, mitochondria, mitochondrial biogenesis, selenoprotein, skeletal muscle
Citation
Wesolowski LT, Semanchik PL and White-Springer SH (2022) Beyond antioxidants: Selenium and skeletal muscle mitochondria. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:1011159. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.1011159
Received
03 August 2022
Accepted
11 November 2022
Published
01 December 2022
Volume
9 - 2022
Edited by
Joel Caton, North Dakota State University, United States
Reviewed by
Lucia A. Seale, University of Hawaii, United States; Ana Clara Baiao Menezes, North Dakota State University, United States
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© 2022 Wesolowski, Semanchik and White-Springer.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Sarah H. White-Springer s.white@ag.tamu.edu
This article was submitted to Animal Nutrition and Metabolism, a section of the journal Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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