Plant-Based Foods Biofortified with Selenium and Their Potential Benefits for Human Health

Abstract

Selenium (Se) is essential for humans. This element is present in more than 25 proteins related to redox processes, and its deficiency is related to the onset of chronic diseases. One way to incorporate Se into the human diet is by consuming plant foods rich in Se. Crop fortification with Se can be achieved through the agronomic practice of biofortification. This chapter discusses dietary sources of inorganic Se (selenate and selenite), organic Se (selenocysteine, selenomethionine, and methylselenocysteine), and bioactive compounds provided by consuming the edible parts of plants as a result of agronomic biofortification. The benefits to human health from consuming selenium-enriched crops due to their biological functions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic are also presented. The intake of Se-enriched plant foods is a growing trend. In addition to providing the daily dose of Se, these Se-enriched vegetables are a functional food option that improves human health due to their content of phytochemical compounds.