Selenium in foodstuffs and the possibility of its supplementation to humans in Slovakia
1998
Madaric, A. | Kadrabova, J. (Ustav Preventivnej a Klinickej Mediciny, Bratislava (Slovak Republic))
Selenium is considered as an antioxidative nutrient because it is a cofactor of the antioxidant enzyme glutathioneperoxidase. Biologically active selenoproteins, enzymes glutathioneperoxidase and type I iodothyronine-5-deiodinase, as well as selenoproteins where selenium is present in the form of aminoacid-selenocysteine, are functional forms of selenium. Mean selenium concentration in cereals in Slovakia, 24 micrograms/kg, is low. There are two regions in Slovakia where selenium content in cereals is 3-4 times higher than the average value. The selenium status of the Slovak population is suboptimal due to low selenium content in soil and therefore in plants, cereals, animals and all foodstuffs produced from local agricultural raw materials. The recommended daily selenium intake is 1 microgram per kg body weight (generally 70 micrograms/day for men and 50 micrograms/day for women). Average intake of selenium in our population is only 40 microgram/day. The selenium level in the food chain can be increased via various fermented milk products enriched with selenium. Those foods contain added Se* (4+), which is biologically incorporated in the protein biomass of bacteria in a natural, biologically well-available organic form. The products provide individual selenium support of the human population and are suitable mostly for the organisms of children
Show more [+] Less [-]AGROVOC Keywords
Bibliographic information
This bibliographic record has been provided by Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Institute