Selenium enrichment of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria: A functional food perspective

• Accumulation and biotransformation of selenium by lactic acid bacteria.
• Implications of selenium enrichment of probiotics and gut microbiota.
• Technological manifestations of selenium biotransformation by lactic acid bacteria.
• Health benefits of selenium-enriched fermented functional foods and probiotics.

Selenium, an essential trace element, is transformed from inorganic to organic and elemental forms by many lactic acid bacteria. This feature is now being considered for potentiating various technological properties of these cultures as well as for delivering a number of nutritive, safe and more bioavailable selenium compounds like selenocysteine, selenomethionine and methylated selenium species for human and animal nutrition. Selenium-enriched probiotics have been shown to confer several health benefits on the host for their antioxidative, antipathogenic, antimutagenic, anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. Here, we review currently available information on selenium enrichment of LAB and its nutritional, health and technological implications for designing novel functional foods.