Could Selenium Supplementation Prevent COVID-19? A Comprehensive Review of Available Studies

Molecules. 2023 May 16;28(10):4130. doi: 10.3390/molecules28104130.

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to systematically examine the scientific evidence investigating selenium's relationship with COVID-19, aiming to support, or refute, the growing hypothesis that supplementation could prevent COVID-19 etiopathogenesis. In fact, immediately after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, several speculative reviews suggested that selenium supplementation in the general population could act as a silver bullet to limit or even prevent the disease. Instead, a deep reading of the scientific reports on selenium and COVID-19 that are available to date supports neither the specific role of selenium in COVID-19 severity, nor the role of its supplementation in the prevention disease onset, nor its etiology.

Keywords: COVID-19; prevention; selenium; supplementation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Selenium* / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Selenium

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.