EFFECT OF SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTATION ON POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACIDS IN RATS

The purpose of this work was to study plasma, adipose tissue, and live r fatty acids percentages of Wistar rats that drank water supplemented with several levels of sodium selenite for 1, 3, and 6 mo. In a gener al way, percentages of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids of supplemented groups were not different from those obta ined with nontreated animals in the analyzed tissues. However, in rats supplemented with 0.5 ppm Se, mainly in adipose tissue, a polyunsatur ated fatty acids increase (p < 0.005) was observed for all times of tr eatment. This could suggest that 0.5 ppm Se supplement probably exerci ses a protective role on polyunsaturated fatty acids in that tissue. S upplements of 6.0, 15.0, and 54.0 ppm Se did not change unsaturation l evels of fatty acids in the analyzed tissues.