Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 4 — Narrative / commentaryPeer-reviewed

Selenium Biofortification of Agricultural Crops and Effects on Plant Nutrients and Bioactive Compounds Important for Human Health and Disease Prevention – a Review

Rachel Newman, Nicole L. Waterland, Youyoun Moon, Janet C. Tou

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition · 2019

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Summary

This narrative review examines selenium biofortification strategies across agricultural crops and their implications for human nutrition and disease prevention. The authors synthesise evidence on how selenium enrichment affects both the targeted micronutrient and broader plant nutrient and bioactive compound profiles. The review appears intended to assess whether selenium biofortification is an effective crop-based intervention to address dietary selenium adequacy whilst maintaining or enhancing other nutritionally important plant constituents.

UK applicability

United Kingdom soils are known to be relatively selenium-deficient, making crop biofortification potentially relevant to UK agricultural policy and public health nutrition. However, application would depend on whether UK crop production systems adopt seleniferous fertilisers or agronomic practices discussed in the review, and regulatory approval of such interventions.

Key measures

Selenium concentration in biofortified crops; plant nutrient and phytochemical composition; as suggested by title, bioavailability and human health relevance of selenium-enriched food crops

Outcomes reported

The review synthesised evidence on selenium biofortification techniques in agricultural crops and their effects on plant nutrient composition, bioactive compound concentrations, and potential health outcomes relevant to disease prevention.

Theme
Nutrition & health
Subject
Micronutrient biofortification
Study type
Narrative Review
Study design
Narrative review
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
Global
System type
Laboratory / in vitro
DOI
10.1007/s11130-019-00769-z
Catalogue ID
SNmp4zkmhb-1jnvnm

Topic tags

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