Absorption, excretion, and retention of selenium from a high selenium yeast in men with a high intake of selenium

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of Se from yeast given to humans with a habitual long-term daily intake at a supra-nutritional level. Research Methods & Procedures: Twelve healthy males with a daily supplemental intake of 300 mg Se as selenised yeast over 10 weeks were supplemented with a single dose of 327 mg as stable ⁷⁷Se incorporated into selenised yeast manufactured by the same standardised process (SelenoPrecise©, Pharma Nord, Denmark). Results: Absorption of Se from ⁷⁷Se-enriched yeast was 89 ± 4 % and the retention was 74 ± 6 %. The ⁷⁷Se excretion from the single-dose was 47 ± 15 mg in urine and 37 ± 13 mg in faeces. The maximum, enriched ⁷⁷Se concentration in plasma was 9.8 ± 1.5 mg/l and the time to maximum was 9.2 hours. The plasma halftime of ⁷⁷Se was longer with increasing time; 1.7 days for the initial phase (½ - 2 days), 3.0 days for the middle phase (2 - 3 days) and 11.1 days for the later phase (3 - 14 days). Conclusion: The Se from the standardised Se-enriched yeast was well absorbed and retained in the body.

(Published online: 12 February, 2008)

Citation: Food & Nutrition Research 2008. DOI: 10.3402/fnr.v52i0.1642