Abstract: Selenium is an essential trace element for human growth and metabolism, and bioactive selenium-containing peptides are an important organic source of selenium. Besides the nutritional value of selenium and its derivatives, various potential health benefits of selenium-containing peptides have been gradually discovered. While selenium-containing peptides are mostly isolated from selenium-enriched plants, selenium resources are unevenly distributed and the existing production technologies have some limitations, making it impossible to meet the industrial production requirements. Moreover, the structure of selenium-containing peptides has not yet been systematically explored so that there is no sufficient evidence to support the structure-activity relationship of selenium-containing peptides. The development of proteomics and peptidomics helps researchers better understand selenium-containing peptides. Based on recent studies in China and abroad, this article summarizes the biological functions of selenium and its metabolic pathways, as well as the sources, preparation methods, biological activities and structural characteristics of bioactive Se-containing peptides. A comparison of the biological activities of Se-containing peptides and their selenium-free counterparts is presented as well. We expect that this review will theoretically guide further research and development of bioactive Se-containing peptides.

Key words: selenium; bioactive selenium-containing peptides; metabolism; physiological function