Effect of dietary methionine on tissue selenium and glutathione peroxidase (EC1.11.1.9) activity in rats given selenomethionine

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Abstract
1. The effect of dietary methionine on the utilization of selenium from dietary selenomethionine ([Se]Met) for tissue Se deposition and for glutathione peroxidase (EC1.11.1.9; GSH-Px) synthesis was studied in male weanling rats.2. When rats were given 0.5 mg Se as [Se]Met/kg diet supplemented with 0, 4 or 9 g methionine/kg, Se in plasma, erythrocytes, liver and muscle increased significantly over the 20 d period for all methionine-treatment groups. The increases in erythrocyte and muscle Se, however, were significantly higher in rats fed on the methionine-deficient diet compared with the methionine-supplemented diets.3. In contrast to the increases in tissue Se, GSH-Px activity in liver, plasma and muscle decreased in methionine-deficient rats given 0.5 mg Se as [Se]Met/kg whereas GSH-Px activity was maintained or increased in rats supplemented with methionine.4. The percentage of tissue Se associated with GSH-Px was calculated from the measured Se concentration and GSH-Px activity. A significantly lower percentage of Se was associated with GSH-Px in methionine-deficient rats compared with methionine-supplemented rats.5. These results show that Se from dietary [Se]Met is preferentially incorporated into body proteins rather than used for GSH-Px synthesis when methionine is limiting in the diet.6. These results further suggest that [Se]Met might not be the optimum Se compound to use for Se supplementation because metabolism of dietary [Se]Met to a biochemically active form, such as GSH-Px, was impaired when [Se]Met was provided in diets low in methionine.