Selenium and vitamin E status: impact on viral pathogenicity.
Selenium (Se), an essential trace element, and vitamin E, a lipid soluble antioxidant, are important mediators for protection against oxidative stress. Recent work has demonstrated that deficiencies in either Se or vitamin E result in increased viral pathogenicity and altered immune responses. Furthermore, deficiencies in either Se or vitamin E results in specific viral mutations, changing relatively benign viruses into virulent ones. Thus, host nutritional status should be considered a driving force for the emergence of new viral strains or newly pathogenic strains of known viruses.
Beck
Melinda A
MA
Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7461, USA. melinda_beck@unc.edu
D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012643:Selenium / Q000172:deficiency*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000172:deficiency*; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014811:Vitamin E Deficiency
D000975:Antioxidants; D014131:Trace Elements; D012643:Selenium