title: Biological functions of selenium and its potential influence on Parkinson's disease.
abstract: Parkinson's disease is characterized by the death of dopaminergic neurons, mainly in the substantia nigra, and causes serious locomotor dysfunctions. It is likely that the oxidative damage to cellular biomolecules is among the leading causes of neurodegeneration that occurs in the disease. Selenium is an essential mineral for proper functioning of the brain, and mainly due to its antioxidant activity, it is possible to exert a special role in the prevention and in the nutritional management of Parkinson's disease. Currently, few researchers have investigated the effects of selenium on Parkinson´s disease. However, it is known that very high or very low body levels of selenium can (possibly) contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, because this imbalance results in increased levels of oxidative stress. Therefore, the aim of this work is to review and discuss studies that have addressed these topics and to finally associate the information obtained from them so that these data and associations serve as input to new research.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul/UFRGS, Campus do Vale, Prédio 43421, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Joel H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ellwanger
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Promoção da Saúde, Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul/UNISC, Bloco 42, sala 4206, Av. Independência, 2293, Universitário, 96815-900 Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Silvia I R
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul/UFRGS, Campus do Vale, Prédio 43421, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Diana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bordin
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Promoção da Saúde, Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul/UNISC, Bloco 42, sala 4206, Av. Independência, 2293, Universitário, 96815-900 Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brasil.|Departamento de Biologia e Farmácia, Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul/UNISC, Bloco 12, sala 1206, Av. Independência, 2293, Universitário, 96815-900 Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Prá
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul/UFRGS, Campus do Vale, Prédio 43421, Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil.|Instituto de Biotecnologia, Universidade de Caxias do Sul/UCS, Rua Francisco Getúlio Vargas, 1130, 95070-560 Caxias do Sul, RS, Brasil.
authors.forename: João A P
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Henriques
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D059290:Dopaminergic Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D012643:Selenium / Q000502:physiology*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D012643:Selenium