Abstract:
Selenium deficiency is associated with impaired immunity and leukemogenesis. Selenium compounds exhibit antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects in leukemic models, indicating therapeutic potential. However, no comprehensive review has assessed selenium’s impact on leukemia patients. This systematic review addresses that gap and highlights areas for future research. Following PRISMA guidelines, literature was re-viewed from Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and EBSCO in May 2025. A de-tailed search strategy used MeSH terms and keywords including “selenium,” “leukemia,” “apoptosis,” and “selenoproteins.” Of 339 records identified, 21 studies met inclusion criteria, spanning preclinical and clinical evidence. Preclinical studies consistently show selenium induces apoptosis, activates caspase pathways, and modulates cell signaling. Clinical studies suggest selenium is safe and may enhance immune markers and liver function, though effects on inflammatory cytokines vary. Therefore, selenium shows strong anticancer properties, especially in prostate cancer, and holds promise as an ad-junctive treatment for leukemia. While its direct therapeutic role remains under investiga-tion, this review identifies key research gaps and calls for rigorous clinical trials to guide future practice.
Keywords: selenium;complementary;systematic review;leukemia;apoptosis;leukemo-genesis;preclinical evidence; clinical evidence
