Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient that functions in the body mainly in the form of selenoproteins. The selenoprotein contains 25 members in humans that exhibit a number of functions. Selenoproteins have immunomodulatory functions and can enhance the ability of immune system to regulate in a variety of ways, which can have a preventive effect on immune-related diseases. Food allergy is a specific immune response that has been increasing in number in recent years, significantly reducing the quality of life and posing a major threat to human health. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the role of Se and selenoproteins in regulating the immune system and how dysregulation of these processes may lead to food allergies. Thus, we can explain the mechanism by which Se and selenoproteins boost immunity to prevent food allergies.

Selenium is a trace element of fundamental importance to human health. In recent years, an increasing number of studies have been carried out in the field of skeletal muscle health and sports nutrition. Selenium functions in the human body through selenoproteins. Selenoproteins play an important role in maintaining skeletal muscle function by delaying exercise fatigue and muscle aging. They mainly regulate skeletal muscle by anti-oxidation, regulating signal pathways, and affecting protein metabolism. In this paper, we summarize the latest advancements in research regarding selenium and its impact on skeletal muscle health, along with its applications in sports nutrition.

Chicken yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) is a natural immunologically active antibody extracted from egg yolk and can be used as a natural dietary supplement for the treatment of inflammation and damage to the intestines. In our study, IgY was embedded in a double emulsion (W/O/W; DE) to explore the therapeutic effect of the embedded IgY on Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced jejunal injury in mice. The results showed that W/O/W-embedded IgY as a dietary supplement (IgY + DE) attenuated LPS-induced damage to mouse small intestinal structures and protected the integrity of the jejunal mucosal barrier. IgY + DE increased the amount of related transcription factors (Math1, Spdef, Elf3, and Klf4) and promoted thrush cell differentiation. IgY + DE ameliorated LPS-induced reduction in mucin quantity and markers. It promoted the expression of Muc1 and Muc2 and increased the mRNA expression levels of Muc1, Muc2, Muc3, Muc4, Muc13, and Agr2 (p < 0.05). IgY + DE increased the expression of several glycosyltransferases involved in mucin glycosylation. IgY + DE also neutralized the LPS attack on the expression of jejunal inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6, IL-4, and TNF-α. In conclusion, the IgY-embedded double emulsion can be used as a dietary supplement for immunotherapy to prevent LPS-induced jejunal injury in mice.

This review aims to explore the potential and mechanisms of selenium-biofortified probiotics as an innovative nutritional strategy for alleviating exercise-induced physiological stress. Exercise, particularly high-intensity or exhaustive exercise, triggers a cascade of physiological perturbations, including oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, gut barrier dysfunction, and muscle damage. Traditional single-nutrient strategies, such as inorganic selenium or probiotic supplementation, are often limited by low bioavailability or a narrow scope of action. Selenium-biofortified probiotics are produced via microbial biotransformation, which converts inorganic selenium into bioavailable organic forms like selenoamino acids or selenium nanoparticles that are loaded onto active probiotic carriers. This creates a synergistic entity combining the bioactivity of selenium with the gut-modulating functions of probiotics. Their core mechanism involves establishing a multi-layered defense system: by providing substrate for key selenoproteins like glutathione peroxidase, they directly enhance endogenous antioxidant defenses; by modulating immune cytokine networks, they downregulate excessive post-exercise inflammation; through probiotic colonization and metabolites, they maintain intestinal epithelial barrier integrity, countering exercise-induced intestinal hyperpermeability; and via the gut–muscle axis, they may regulate muscle metabolism and repair. Animal studies provide evidence for improved exercise endurance and reduced damage markers, but human clinical trials show inconsistent results, highlighting the influence of study design, dosage, and individual baseline status. Future research requires high-quality, long-term human trials to elucidate specific molecular pathways and develop personalized application protocols, advancing this synergistic strategy toward precision sports nutrition.

Chicken yolk immunoglobulin (IgY), an immunologically active component, is used as an alternative to antibiotics for the treatment of enteritis. In this study, IgY was embedded in a W/O/W emulsion to overcome the digestive barrier and to investigate the protective effect of IgY against LPS-induced enteritis in mice. Four different hydrophilic emulsifiers (T80, PC, SC, and WPI) were selected to prepare separate W/O/W emulsions for encapsulating IgY. The results showed that the IgY-embedded double emulsion in the WPI group was the most effective. IgY embedded in the W/O/W emulsion could reduce the damage of LPS to the mouse intestine and prevent LPS-induced intestinal mucosal damage in mice. It increased the number of cup cells, promoted the expression of Muc2, and increased the mRNA expression levels of KLF3, TFF3, Itln1, and Ang4 (p < 0.05). It also enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the colon tissue, reduced the level of inflammatory factors in the colon tissue, and protected the integrity of the colon tissue. Stable embedding of IgY could be achieved using the W/O/W emulsion. In addition, the IgY-embedded W/O/W emulsion can be used as a dietary supplement to protect against LPS-induced enteritis in mice.

Iron is an essential trace element that participates in multiple physiological processes, including oxygen transport, electron transfer, DNA synthesis, and red blood cell production. Iron loss is particularly severe among athletes, so maintaining iron homeostasis is crucial for sports nutrition and health. Excess iron, iron deficiency, and ferroptosis can lead to muscle disorders and health issues, including sarcopenia, muscular atrophy, myocardial fibrosis, skeletal muscle injury, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders. Maintaining iron homeostasis within physiological limits is essential for athletes to sustain high-intensity performance and accelerate recovery. Therefore, a comprehensive review of the effects of iron homeostasis and ferroptosis on muscle health is significant for identifying potential therapeutic targets and developing new disease treatment and prevention strategies. This paper systematically reviews research progress on targeted therapies for iron overload and ferroptosis in muscle diseases, clarifies the impact of iron on athletes’ physiological functions and competitive performance, and explores the potential application of iron in precision nutritional regulation. It aims to provide new insights for preventing exercise-induced muscle injury, myocardial damage, and overtraining syndrome in athletes.