Effect of selenate as a feed supplement to dairy cows in comparison to selenite and selenium yeast

The main aim of this trial was to define the possible differences between selenite and selenate in their ability to increase the selenium (Se) concentration of milk, in comparison with organic Se. Dairy cows (n = 42) were fed a basal diet containing .10 to .12 mg Se/kg DM for 5 mo and were then divided into four groups of 10 or 11, as similar as possible in age and stage of lactation. During the next 84 d, the cows in three of the groups were supplemented with 3 mg of Se daily, whereas the cows in one control group remained unsupplemented. The Se supplement was given as sodium selenite, sodium selenate, or a Se yeast product. The total Se concentration of the diets varied with the cows' stage of lactation and was for the supplemented groups .24 to .31 mg/kg DM, but remained between .10 and .12 mg/kg in the control group. At the end of the trial, the mean whole blood Se concentrations in the selenite, selenate, yeast, and control groups were 138, 141, 165, and 104 microg/L, respectively. The Se concentration in plasma apparently reached a plateau level within 4 wk, at approximately 75 microg/L in the selenite group, 80 microg/L in the selenate group, and 90 microg/L in the yeast group. In the control group the mean concentration in plasma remained at approximately 50 microg/L. The increase of the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the erythrocytes was significantly higher in the supplemented groups than in the control group. The mean concentrations of Se in milk in the selenite, selenate, and yeast groups were 16.4, 16.4, and 31.2 microg/L, respectively, whereas the concentration remained at approximately 14 microg/L in the control group. The milk Se concentration reached a plateau within 1 wk after the start of Se supplementation. Dietary supplementation with selenite and selenate, thus, had only a limited effect on the Se concentration in milk, and there was no significant difference between the two inorganic compounds in any variable measured. Organic Se was much more effective than inorganic Se in increasing the concentration of Se in milk.     

The effect of injectable barium selenate on the selenium status of horses on pasture

AIM: To examine the effect of intramuscular barium selenate on the blood selenium concentration of horses with marginal selenium status. METHODS: Eighteen mares were assigned to one of six groups. The mares in groups 1-4 received barium selenate at 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.5 mg Se/kg, respectively, injected into the right pectoral muscle mass. The mares in group 5 received sodium selenate at 0.05 mg Se/kg orally at 8-week intervals. The mares in group 6 were left untreated. Blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 5, 10, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300 and 360 days after the initial treatment for assay of whole blood and plasma selenium. Injection site reactions were recorded on each sampling date. RESULTS: Treatment with barium selenate at each dose rate significantly increased whole blood, plasma and blood cell selenium concentrations when compared to no treatment or oral treatment with sodium selenate, and maintained group mean whole blood selenium concentrations in the adequate range (>1600 nmol/l) until the end of the experimental period of 1 year. The severity of injection site reactions increased with dose rate but was considered acceptable alt the lower dose rates used. CONCLUSION: The injection of barium selenate placed aseptically at a deep intramuscular site was efficacious in correcting the selenium status of mares grazing pasture with a selenium content of 0.01-0.07 mg/kg DM. However, some swelling and fibrosis at the injection site was apparent at all dose rates used. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There is currently no long-acting selenium supplementation product licensed in New Zealand for use in horses. Barium selenate promises to provide a useful method for selenium supplementation for horses, with an effective duration of at least 1 year following a single injection.     

The influence of dietary selenium as selenium yeast or sodium selenite on the concentration of selenium in the milk of Suckler cows and on the selenium status of their calves

The aim of this trial was to determine whether the selenium status of suckling calves could be improved by supplementing their dams' diet with organic Se instead of sodium selenite. A herd of 103 Hereford cows, which were on grass paddocks all year round, was divided into two groups. Both groups had free access to a mineral supplement that contained 30 mg of Se/kg; for one group the source of the Se was a Se yeast product, and for the other group the source was sodium selenite. The basal feed contained .02 mg of Se/kg DM. During the trial, the mean daily consumption of the mineral supplement was approximately 110 g/cow. The calving season started in the middle of March and ended in the middle of May. Blood samples were taken from 11 cows and their calves in the yeast group and from nine in the selenite group at the end of April and again at the beginning of June, and milk samples were taken at the same times. At both samplings, the concentration of Se in whole blood and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in the erythrocytes of the cows and calves in the yeast group were higher than in the samples from the animals in the selenite group. The same pattern was seen for plasma, except for the cows at the first sampling. The mean concentrations of Se in whole blood from calves in the yeast and selenite groups were 130 and 84 microg/L, respectively, and plasma concentrations were 48 and 34 microg/ L, respectively. Mean Se concentration in the milk from the yeast group (17.3 microg/L) was higher than that in milk from the selenite group (12.7 microg/L). There were significant correlations (r = .59 to .68) between the concentrations of Se in the cow's milk or cow's whole blood compared with Se concentrations in the calves whole blood and plasma or with the erythrocyte GSH-Px activity of the calves. The Se status of the calves in the selenite group was considered to be marginal, but the status of the calves in the yeast group was considered to be adequate. Supplementation of the suckler cows' diet with organic Se in the form of Se yeast rather than sodium selenite improved the Se status of their calves when the Se was mixed into a mineral supplement containing 30 mg of Se/kg. In practice, such supplementation would probably eliminate the risk of nutritional muscular degeneration in suckling calves.     

Selenium and glutathione peroxidase levels in lambs receiving feed supplemented with sodium selenite or selenomethionine

Twenty-one 6 months old female lambs were divided into 7 groups and fed a basal diet containing 0.13 mg Se/kg. The basal diet was further supplemented with 0, 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 mg Se/kg either as sodium selenite or as selenomethionine, and was fed for 10 weeks. Both feed additives produced an increase in the selenium concentration in the tissues analysed. Significant correlations were found between the concentrations of selenomethionine or sodium selenite added to the feed and the subsequent tissue levels. However, the selenium levels seemed to plateau at approximately 0.5 mg Se/kg of supplemented sodium selenite. The total glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity of the tissues increased when the selenium supplementation increased from 0 to 0.1 mg/kg for both selenium compounds. With further increase in selenium supplementation the GSH-Px activity in the tissues plateaued except in the blood where the activity continued to rise with increasing selenomethionine supplementation. The selenium dependent GSH-Px activity in the liver rose with increasing selenomethionine supplementation, but approached a plateau when 0.1 mg Se/kg as sodium selenite was added to the feed. The selenium concentration in whole blood responded more rapidly to the selenium supplementation than did GSH-Px activity. The experiment indicates that the optimal selenium concentration in the feed is considerably higher than 0.1 mg Se/kg, and that selenium levels of 1.0 mg/kg in the feed do not result in any risk for the animals or the consumers of the products.Key words: dietary selenium, lambs, selenium concentrations, glutathione peroxidase activities, tissues     

Effect of grazing pasture with a low selenium content on the concentrations of triiodothyronine and thyroxine in serum, and GSH-Px activity in erythrocytes in cows in Chile

AIM: To determine the effect of grazing pasture that had a low selenium (Se) concentration on serum concentrations of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in dairy cows. METHODS: Forty pregnant Friesian cows were grazed on pasture that contained 0.03-0.04 ppm Se on a dry matter (DM) basis. Two months before parturition, 20 cows were randomly selected and treated with 1 mg Se/kg bodyweight subcutaneously, as barium selenate (Group Se-S). The other group (Se-D) was not supplemented. Blood samples were taken before supplementation (-60 days) and 30, 60, 90, 180 and 270 days after parturition, for determination of concentrations of T3 and T4 in serum, and GSH-Px activity in erythrocytes. RESULTS: Erythrocyte GSH-Px activity in the Se-D group was <60 U/g haemoglobin (Hb) throughout the experiment. Supplementation increased (p<0.05) activities to >130 U/g Hb throughout lactation. Mean serum concentrations of T4 in Se-D and Se-S cows increased from 23.7 (SEM 0.7) and 23.4 (SEM 0.8) nmol/L, respectively, in the prepartum period to 69.6 (SEM 0.1) and 67.6 (SEM 0.2) nmol/L, respectively, at 180 days of lactation (p<0.01), and no effect of Se supplementation was evident. Serum concentrations of T3 in Se-D cows decreased (p<0.05) from 1.6 (SEM 0.1) nmol/L prepartum to 1.0 (SEM 0.2) nmol/L at the beginning of lactation, and remained lower (p<0.05) than those in the Se-S cows which did not decrease after calving and ranged from 1.9 (SEM 0.1) to 2.4 (SEM 0.2) nmol/L throughout lactation. CONCLUSIONS: Serum T3 concentrations decreased during early lactation in unsupplemented cows grazing pastures low in Se (0.03-0.04 ppm) and both serum T3 and erythrocyte GSHPx activities were consistently lower throughout lactation compared with Se-supplemented cows. Se supplementation had no effect on serum T4 concentrations.     

Barium selenate as a slow-release selenium preparation to pigs

Pregnant sows were injected subcutaneously (s.c.) or intramuscularly (i.m.) with a barium selenate suspension (0.5–1.0 mg Se/kg body weight (b.w.)) and together with control animals fed a commercial diet. No response to the injection was seen either in blood selenium levels or in glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in the sows. There was, however, a significant difference in these parameters between piglets born from treated dams and control animals. This status was maintained during the nursing period. In another experiment pigs (20 kg b.w.) on a Se-deficient diet were injected s.c. and i.m. with barium selenate (2.5 mg Se/kg b.w.). The treated groups maintained their blood levels of selenium and GSH-Px activity, although the selenium values in the group treated intramuscularly started to decline after 4 weeks. Organ samples from both groups were equal with regard to selenium at the time of slaughter while the control group showed a rapid decline both in blood selenium levels and GHS-Px activity.     

The effects of soybean selenium proteinate on tissue selenium and meat quality traits in finishing pigs

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of soybean selenium proteinate on Se tissue retention and meat quality in pigs. In group A (n = 11) the mixtures were supplemented with soybean selenium proteinate, in group B (n = 11) with sodium selenite and in group C (n = 11) with Se-enriched yeast (0.3 mg Se per kg in all groups). The use of soybean selenium proteinate resulted in lower retention of Se in tissues (liver, heart, muscle) compared to Se-enriched yeast. Selenium concentrations in tissues achieved by soybean selenium proteinate and sodium selenite were comparable. No differences in serum Se, serum GSH-Px and meat quality traits were found among the groups.     

Effects of dietary Selenomethionine supplementation on growth performance,antioxidant status,plasma selenium concentration,and immune function in weaning pigs

Background:This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of DL-selenomethionine(DL-SeMet) supplementation on growth performance,antioxidant status,plasma selenium(Se) concentration,and immune function of weaning pigs.216 weaning pigs were randomly allocated to 6 treatments with 6 replicates each according to a complete randomized block design.Each replicate had six pigs.Diet of group one was corn-soybean basal diet without any additional Se supplement.Group 2 was supplemented with 0.3 mg/kg of Se from sodium selenite.Groups 3-6 were supplemented with 0.1,0.3,0.5,and 0.7 mg/kg of Se from DL-SeMet,respectively.The trial lasted for 42 days.Results:Pigs supplemented with 0.3 and 0.7 mg/kg DL-SeMet obtained better feed gain ratio(P 0.05).The best antioxidant ability(serum,liver,and muscle) was shown in 0.1-0.3 mg/kg DL-SeMet groups(P 0.05).The plasma Se concentration increased as the dietary DL-SeMet level elevated.The immunity among groups was not affected.Conclusions:DL-SeMet supplementation in the diet significantly improved the growth performance,antioxidant ability and plasma Se content of weaning pigs.DL-SeMet can replace sodium selenite in the diet of weaning pigs.     

Influence of selenium on antibody production in sheep

Three experiments were carried out, using sheep fed a marginally low selenium diet, to study the effect of selenium supplementation on the antibody response to tetanus toxoid and on the serum IgG concentration. Six groups of three six-month-old lambs were fed a basal diet containing 0.13 mg Se kg-1 supplemented with either 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0 mg Se kg-1, as sodium selenite or as selenomethionine. These animals generally showed enhanced antibody response to tetanus toxoid, parainfluenza-3 virus and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, and their total serum IgG concentrations were higher than in unsupplemented control animals although few responses were statistically significant. In two field studies significantly higher titres to tetanus toxoid were detected in ewes injected with 100 mg selenium as barium selenate, although no influence on serum IgG concentrations was detected. Lambs from selenium supplemented ewes had significantly higher titres to tetanus toxoid than lambs from ewes in the control group. Dietary vitamin E supplementation had a similar effect on the antibody response to tetanus toxoid in ewes, though no additive effect was seen when vitamin E was given together with selenium.     

Effect of grazing pasture with a low selenium content on the concentrations of triiodothyronine and thyroxine in serum,and GSH-Px activity in erythrocytes in cows in Chile

AIM: To determine the effect of grazing pasture that had a low selenium (Se) concentration on serum concentrations of tri iodothyronine (T₃) and thyroxine (T₄), and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in dairy cows.

METHODS: Forty pregnant Friesian cows were grazed on pasture that contained 0.03–0.04 ppm Se on a dry matter (DM) basis. Two months before parturition, 20 cows were randomly selected and treated with 1 mg Se/kg bodyweight subcutaneously, as barium selenate (Group Se-S). The other group (Se-D) was not supplemented. Blood samples were taken before supplementation (-60 days) and 30, 60, 90, 180 and 270 days after parturition, for determination of concentrations of T₃ and T₄ in serum, and GSH-Px activity in erythrocytes.

RESULTS: Erythrocyte GSH-Px activity in the Se-D group was >60 U/g haemoglobin (Hb) throughout the experiment. Supplementation increased (p>0.05) activities to >130 U/g Hb throughout lactation. Mean serum concentrations of T₄ in Se-D and Se-S cows increased from 23.7 (SEM 0.7) and 23.4 (SEM 0.8) nmol/L, respectively, in the prepartum period to 69.6 (SEM 0.1) and 67.6 (SEM 0.2) nmol/L, respectively, at 180 days of lactation (p>0.01), and no effect of Se supplementation was evident. Serum concentrations of T₃ in Se-D cows decreased (p>0.05) from 1.6 (SEM 0.1) nmol/L prepartum to 1.0 (SEM 0.2) nmol/L at the beginning of lactation, and remained lower (p>0.05) than those in the Se-S cows which did not decrease after calving and ranged from 1.9 (SEM 0.1) to 2.4 (SEM 0.2) nmol/L throughout lactation.

CONCLUSIONS: Serum T₃ concentrations decreased during early lactation in unsupplemented cows grazing pastures low in Se (0.03–0.04 ppm) and both serum T₃ and erythrocyte GSH-Px activities were consistently lower throughout lactation compared with Se-supplemented cows. Se supplementation had no effect on serum T₄ concentrations.     

Seasonal variation of selenium status of Norwegian dairy cows and effects of selenium supplementation

Blood selenium levels were found to fluctuate throughout the year, being highest during the indoor season when the greatest amounts of compound concentrates were fed. From October to January the average blood selenium levels increased from 0.10 μg/ml to 0.18 μg/ml (15 cows). Subcutaneous injections of barium selenate (500 mg selenium) increased the blood selenium levels significantly. The treated group (15 cows) reached average levels of about 0.21 μg/ml blood during the indoor season.The effect of oral supplementation of sodium selenite (for 2 months) on the levels of plasma selenium, blood selenium and glutathione peroxidase activity was investigated. Plasma selenium was found to give an immediate reflection of the daily selenium intake. Maximum activity of glutathione peroxidase was reached 1 month after the end of the supplementation period.It is concluded that if selenium enriched concentrates are used in a normal feeding regimen, further supplementation with selenium does not seem to be necessary.     

不同硒源对肥育猪背最长肌和血清中抗氧化指标的影响

试验选用72头(61.32±1.14)kg杜长大肥育猪,随机分成3个处理,每个处理4个重复(栏),每个栏6头猪。3个处理分别饲喂基础日粮+0.30 mg/kg亚硒酸钠、基础日粮+0.30 mg/kg酵母硒Ⅰ、基础日粮+0.30 mg/kg酵母硒Ⅱ。正试试验期6周。试验结束后从每个重复选择体重基本一致的试验猪各1头,前腔静脉采血后屠宰取背最长肌,测定肌肉和血清中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活力、总过氧化物歧化酶活力、丙二醛含量和总抗氧化能力。结果表明:与亚硒酸钠相比,酵母硒Ⅱ提高了血清和肌肉中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶和总过氧化物歧化酶活力活力(P<0.05),降低了丙二醛水平(P<0.05),显著提高了血清的总抗氧化能力(P<0.05)。     

饲粮中添加不同硒源对产蛋鸡生产性能和抗氧化能力的影响

本试验研究了饲粮中添加亚硒酸钠、酵母硒、蛋氨酸硒和纳米硒对产蛋鸡生产性能、鸡蛋品质、血浆抗氧化能力和鸡蛋硒含量的影响,旨在为产蛋鸡饲粮中硒的合理使用提供理论依据。选取18周龄健康、产蛋率相近的海兰灰产蛋鸡540只,随机分为5组,每组6个重复,每个重复18只。对照组饲喂不添加硒的基础饲粮(总硒含量0.08 mg/kg),其他4组添加0.30 mg/kg硒,分别来自亚硒酸钠、酵母硒、蛋氨酸硒和纳米硒(实测饲粮硒含量分别为0.37、0.38、0.34和0.41 mg/kg)。试验预试期1周,正试期8周。结果表明:1)不同硒源对产蛋鸡的生产性能和蛋品质均无显著影响(P0.05)。2)与对照组相比,饲粮中添加0.30 mg/kg 4种硒均显著提高了血浆谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性(P0.05)。试验4周末,纳米硒组GSH-Px活性最高;8周末,酵母硒组和纳米硒组GSH-Px活性较高。与对照组相比,饲粮中添加4种硒源均能够提高血浆总抗氧化能力(T-AOC),且纳米硒组在4和8周末均显著高于其他各组(P0.05)。4种硒源对血浆超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量均无显著影响(P0.05)。3)与对照组相比,基础饲粮中添加4种硒源均可显著提高鸡蛋中硒含量(P0.05),其中酵母硒组显著高于其他3组(P0.05)。由此可见,基础饲粮中添加4种硒源对产蛋鸡生产性能和鸡蛋品质无显著影响;4种硒源均可显著提高血浆GSH-Px活性和T-AOC,且酵母硒和纳米硒效果更好;与亚硒酸钠、蛋氨酸硒和纳米硒相比,酵母硒在增加鸡蛋硒含量方面更加有效。     

Increasing selenium supply during the close-up dry period improves nutrient metabolism and attenuates inflammatory response after calving in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to investigate whether feeding selenium (Se)-replete cows a Se-yeast supplement in late pregnancy affects nutrient metabolism and inflammatory response during the periparturient period. Twenty cows were randomly assigned to two groups with 10 cows each. Cows in one group received Se-yeast at 0.3 mg Se/kg DM during the last 4 weeks before calving in addition to fed a TMR containing supplemented sodium selenite at 0.3 mg Se/kg DM (Se-yeast), while cows in another group were only fed a TMR containing supplemented sodium selenite at 0.3 mg Se/kg DM (Control). Blood samples were collected and analyzed for nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), glucose, insulin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), and albumin. In control cows, plasma NEFA, IL-1β, IL-6, SAA, and Hp levels increased after calving, but glucose, insulin, and albumin levels decreased after parturition. Se-yeast supplemental cows had lower postpartum concentrations of NEFA, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, SAA, and Hp, and higher postpartum levels of glucose, insulin, and albumin compared with control cows. The results indicate that feeding Se-replete cows a Se-yeast supplement in late pregnancy improves nutrient metabolism and attenuates the inflammatory response after calving.     

富硒麦芽对实验性肝癌大鼠NO、NOS和脂质过氧化的影响

50只清洁级sD大鼠随机分为4组：对照组（5只）、模型组（15只）、富硒麦芽组（15只）和亚硒酸钠组（15只）。对照组和模型组饲喂大鼠基础饲料，饲料含硒量为0．1mg／kg；富硒麦芽组和亚硒酸钠组分别在基础饲料中补充富硒麦芽和亚硒酸钠，饲料含硒量为3．0mg／kg。除对照组外，其余3组采用0．01％二乙基亚硝胺（DEN）诱发大鼠肝癌16周，停止诱癌后继续饲养2周再处死全部大鼠，观察富硒麦芽对丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、碱性磷酸酶（ALP）、白蛋白（ALB）、总胆红素（TBIL）、一氧化氮（NO）、一氧化氮合成酶（NOS）、丙二醛（MDA）和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH—Px）的影响。结果显示，富硒麦芽组大鼠血浆ALT、ALP、TBII—NO、MDA和肝组织NO、NOs、MDA显著低于模型组，全血和肝组织GSH—Px活性显著高于模型组；与亚硒酸钠组相比，富硒麦芽组大鼠血浆和肝组织的NO含量和NOS活性显著降低。试验表明富硒麦芽具有减轻肝脏损伤、延缓大鼠肝癌形成的能力，其作用机制之一可能为富硒麦芽能抑制NO的产生，清除体内大量过剩的氧自由基。减轻NO等自由基所致的脂质过氧化损伤。     

The effect of the selenium status of goats on the resistance of erythrocytes to oxidative damage

The effect of selenium status on the development of Heinz body anaemia was studied in 16 three months old Saanen goats which received a diet with a low selenium content. The control group (Se-, n = 8) received no supplementary selenium while the treated group (Se+, n = 8) received selenium by injection. Erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase concentration was significantly higher in the Se+ group than in the control group (105 vs 36 U/g Hgb). The animals were drenched once per day with 30 mg of dimethyl disulphide (DMDS) per kg of body weight for 14 days and with 50 mg per kg during the following 11 days. Erythrocytes with Heinz bodies appeared within one week after increasing the DMDS dose to 50 mg/kg/day and reached a peak one week later (30% and 37% of erythrocytes with Heinz bodies in group Se+ and Se- respectively). Within the next three weeks haemoglobin levels dropped from 135 g/l to 123 g/l and 114 g/l in the Se+ and the Se- group respectively. Differences between the two groups were statistically significant for the percentage of erythrocytes with Heinz bodies and for haemoglobin values (p less than 0.05). The data support the hypothesis that selenium status influences the resistance of ruminants to brassica-induced Heinz body anaemia.     

Effect of selenium and vitamin E on oxidative stress in lambs experimentally infected with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haemonchus contortus</Emphasis>

The objective of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress in lambs experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus and supplemented with selenium and vitamin E. Twenty male Corriedale lambs were divided into four experimental groups with five animals each: G1 consisted of animals infected and supplemented with 0.2 mg/kg of live weight (LW) sodium selenite by intramuscular injection (IM); G2 consisted of animals infected with larvae and supplemented with 0.2 mg/kg LW sodium selenite IM and 2000 IU per animal of Vitamin E IM; G3 consisted of animals infected with larvae and supplemented with 2000 IU per animal of Vitamin E IM; and G4 consisted of animals infected with larvae. The animals were infected orally with 500 H. contortus larvae (L3) every 48 hours for 20 days. For biochemical analyses and eggs per grams of feces (EPG) evaluation, blood and feces were both collected at zero (T0), 20 (T1), 40 (T2) and 60 (T3) days. The weight of the animals was also measured at these times. Lower TBARS values were observed in the supplemented animals compared to the control group. The groups supplemented with Selenium exhibited blood GSH-Px activity higher than that of non-supplemented animals. Supplementation with selenium provided greater antioxidant protection against oxidative stress generated from experimental infection of lambs with H. contortus.     

Comparative effect of selenium in wheat, barley, fish meal and sodium selenite for prevention of exudative diathesis in chicks

Groups af White Leghorn chicks obtained from dams deprived on selenium (Se), were fed from hatching a low-Se-vitamin E basal diet alone, or supplemented with 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 or 0.08 mg Se/kg diet, as sodium selenite (Na2SeO₃ · 5H₂O), wheat, barley or fish meal. Prevention of the Se-vitamin E deficiency responsive disease exudative diathesis (ED) as it was clinical observed, induction of the plasma Se dependent enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, and Se concentration in the cardiac muscle were observed to be dietary Se level and source dependent. Slope ratio assay was applied to estimate the biological availability of Se in the natural sources relative to Se in sodium selenite. For the prevention of ED, the bioavailability of Se in wheat, barley and fish meal was 99, 85 and 80 %, respectively. The increase in the plasma GSH-Px activity revealed a bioavailability for Se in wheat, barley and fish meal of 79, 71 and 66 %, respectively. Using retention of Se in the cardiac muscle as the bioassay, a bioavailability of 108, 87 and 100 % was calculated for wheat, barley and fish meal Se, respectively.     

Bioavailability to chicks of selenium in barley, oats and meat meal

Day-old White Leghorn chicks deficient in selenium (Se) were fed a low Se basal diet (containing adequate level of vitamin E) for 2 weeks depletion period before they were given the experimental diets containing different levels of Se for 4 weeks. Dietary treatments contained 0.03, 0.06, 0.09 or 0.12 mg Se/kg as sodium selenite, barley, oats, meat meal or their extracted counterparts. Plasma GSH-Px activity was observed at weekly intervals, while the Se concentration of plasma and liver were determined at the end of the study. The biological availability of Se in the test ingredients was measured by the induction of plasma GSH-Px activity. In comparison to sodium selenite (100 %) it was: 77 % for barley, 80 % for extracted barley, 37 % for oats, 62 % for extracted oats, 20 % for meat meal, and 26 % for extracted meat meal. Using the retention of Se in plasma as a criterion, the following biological availability of Se was observed: barley 151 %; extracted barley 102 %; oats 90 %; extracted oats 107 %; meat meal 40 %; and extracted meat meal 47 %. Similarly, the efficiency of the test ingredients in increasing the Se concentration in liver was: barley 82 %; extracted barley 90 %; oats 67 %; extracted oats 98 %; meat meal 26 %; and extracted meat meal 31 %. The greater biopotency of the natural Se sources for increasing the Se concentration of the chick tissues than for inducing the plasma GSH-Px activity in comparison to sodium selenite, indicated that proportionally less amounts of the Se retained in the chick plasma from the natural sources were incorporated into the metabolic active form of Se, i.e., GSH-Px. Therefore, the plasma GSH-Px activity was suggested as the more reliable criterion to be used for the evaluation of the bioavailability of Se.     

Reduced selenium status in chicks given diets low in sulphur-containing amino acids and containing sodium nitroprusside as a source of cyanide

1. Two experiments were carried out to study the effect of dietary cyanide, given in the form of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), on the growth and selenium status of chicks fed on diets low in sulphur-containing amino acids. 2. In experiment 1, SNP (0.3 g/kg) depressed growth rate and food intake when included in diets low in total sulphur-containing amino acids. It also reduced plasma and liver glutathione peroxidase activity (GSH-Px) and kidney selenium concentration. These latter variables also showed increases in response to supplements of selenium of 0.1 and 0.2 mg selenium/kg (as sodium selenite) although growth was not affected. 3. In experiment 2, SNP did not affect growth when reduced to 0.1 g/kg in diets low both in methionine and total sulphur-containing amino acids. It did, however, reduce plasma GSH-Px activity, which again increased in response to similar dietary supplements of selenium. 4. It is concluded that dietary cyanide effectively increases the requirement for selenium and could induce deficiency in diets only marginally adequate in selenium, particularly when the supply of sulphur-containing amino acids was marginal or inadequate.