Relationship between serum concentrations of the Se transporter selenoprotein P (SELENOP) and survival in COVID-19 and possible implications for Se supply to target organs and systemic defects. (A) Patients with COVID-19 display strongly reduced SELENOP concentrations compared to healthy adults (Controls). In particular, non-survivors (Death) showed very severe Se deficiency compared to survivors who left the hospital alive (Discharge). The red broken line indicates the 2.5th percentile of serum SELENOP as indicator of severe Se deficiency. (B) Severely reduced serum SELENOP concentrations indicate decreased Se transport to target organs, resulting in partial Se deficiency in the three major communication systems of the human organism, i.e., the immune, the endocrine and the central nervous system. The survival data have been published [2]. Spearman’s correlation test was applied (2-sided, 2-tailed), **** indicates p < 0.0001.