SELENIUM DIETARY-INTAKE OF LAHORE METROPOLITAN POPULATION

Evidence is accumulating to suggest that selenium is an essential trac e element for human beings. The low contents of selenium in human bein gs can cause number of diseases, like cancer and Keshan disease. In th is investigation an attempt has been made to evaluate the selenium con tent of normal consumables of Lahore metropolitan area including subur bs of Lahore. This will give a fair picture of intake of selenium in g eneral population of Pakistan. The selenium intake was calculated with the basket method and not determined with duplicate method. The calcu lation of selenium intake usually overestimates the selenium consumpti on. Fruit, vegetables, grains, cereals and meat have been analyzed for selenium content. The daily intake of people ranges from 41.18 to 52. 07 mu g/day.