Figure 2.

Well-established and recently described associations of Se deficiency with certain health risks. Low Se status can result from insufficient nutritional supply, chronic disease, inflammation, infection, or as a result from pregnancy, surgery or other conditions of increased need. Severe Se deficiency is known to be associated with autoimmune disease and increased risk of mortality due to cancer, cardiovascular disease, or infection. Recent research has added hypoglycemia risk and poor survival of patients with COVID-19 or type 2 diabetes mellitus to the list of Se-dependent health issues. The importance of poor Se status for the development of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern due to increased mutagenesis in Se-deficient hosts or for the development and resolution of long-COVID symptoms are other potential links, but respective studies and relevant data are not yet at hand.