Roles of Nutritional Selenium in Mouse Aging and Age-Related Degenerations

The study explored the role of selenium (Se) at nutritional levels in aging, using a mouse model with short telomeres (Terc-/- mice) to better mimic human aging. Mice were fed either a Se-deficient diet or a diet supplemented with selenate (0.15 ppm) throughout their lives. The research found that Se deficiency led to health span deterioration, evidenced by metabolic changes and aging phenotypes such as grey hair, alopecia, and impaired wound healing. The study also utilized a high-throughput platform to profile over 800 miRNAs in plasma, identifying potential biomarkers for aging. This model provided insights into the impact of Se on aging, overcoming limitations of previous models with longer telomeres.