On supplementing the selenium intake of New Zealanders

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Abstract
Urinary and fecal excretion of single oral doses of I mg Se or 0.1 mg Se as selenomethionine (Semet-Se) in solution were studied in 2 women. Most of the Se was absorbed and little was eliminated in the urine (0.05-0.22 dose). The results were compared with those from an earlier study on the same 2 women after similar sized doses of sodium selenite (selenite-Se) in solution. Although selenite-Se was almost as well absorbed as Semet-Se, more was excreted in the urine (0.41-0.85 dose). Repeated dosing with I mg selenite-Se on 5 consecutive days in 1 of the women indicated that 1.1 mg was retained. Patients (20) with muscular complaints from Tapanui (South Otago, New Zealand), a low-Se soil area, ingested 0.5 mg selenite-Se daily for 20 days. Blood Se increased rapidly to almost twice the initial concentration, but reached a plateau well below most values reported for residents outside New Zealand. No difference in blood Se concentration was found between those who did or did not report improvement. Spasmodic medication with selenite-Se by some residents near Lincoln (Christchurch, New Zealand) for periods of up to 10 yr or more increased the blood Se somewhat.

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