Selenium metabolism and platelet glutathione peroxidase activity in healthy Finnish men: effects of selenium yeast, selenite, and selenate

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Abstract
The mean dietary selenium intake in Finland increased from 40 to 100 µg/d in 1987 because of the addition in 1985 of selenium to fertilizers. A selenium-supplementation study was performed in 1987 on the same men as were followed in a 1981 study that had a similar design (200 µg Se/d). Selenite and selenate, but not selenium yeast increased platelet glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity by 30% compared with placebo, much less than the 70% found in the previous study. Selenium yeast and selenite increased plasma selenium after 11 wk from 1.39 µmol/L to peak values of 2.15 and 1.58 µmol/L, respectively. Only yeast selenium was incorporated into red cells. From a regression plot based on present and literature data, it was estimated that the plasma selenium concentration needed to achieve maximal platelet GSHPx activity was 1.25–1.45 µmol/ L. At the present selenium intake in Finland, 100 µg/d, GSHPx activity is saturated in plasma and red cells and almost saturated in platelets.

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