PLATELET SELENIUM AS INDICATOR OF WHEAT SELENIUM INTAKE

The effect of an increased intake of wheat selenium (Se) on platelet S e, serum Se, whole-blood Se, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) level s was investigated in 14 healthy Norwegian females (age 21-53 years). The intake of 60mug Se per day as wheat Se, for six weeks, significant ly increased the platelet Se (mean +/- SEM) from 9.1 +/- 1.1mumol/L to 11.4 +/- 0.9mumol/L, the serum Se from 1.43 +/- 0.18mumol/L to 1.63 /- 0.25mumol/L, and the whole blood Se from 1.77 +/- 0.18mumol/L to 2. 01 +/- 0.18mumol/L. The increase in percent of initial Se values was t wice as high for platelets as for serum and whole blood. The GSH-Px le vels were not altered during the experiment. Platelet Se was not signi ficantly correlated to the Se intake initially. At the end of the expe rimental period, the Se in platelets reflected the total Se intake, bu t not with a simple linear correlation. No significant correlation bet ween the total Se intake and the Se concentration in whole blood or se rum was found.