MINERAL STATUS IN SELENIUM-DEFICIENT RATS COMPARED TO SELENIUM-SUFFICIENT RATS FED VITAMIN-FREE CASEIN-BASED OR TORULA YEAST-BASED DIET

To clarify the mineral status in selenium (Se)-deficient rats fed a vi tamin-free casein (VFC)-based or torula yeast (TY)-based diet, 24 wean ling male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups fed diets using VFC o r TY as the protein source and containing Se at sufficient (0.5 mug/g, +Se) or deficient (0.019 mug/g for VFC-based and < 0.005 mug/g for TY -based diets, -Se) level for 8 wk. TY supplied a larger amount of extr a minerals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) except Se than VFC. Se concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity were significantly l ower in TY-fed rats than in VFC-fed rats, as well as in -Se rats compa red to +Se rats. Compared to +Se rats, Fe concentration was higher in liver and muscle of -Se rats fed the VFC-based diet and in plasma, hea rt, liver, and tibia of -Se rats fed the TY-based diet. Compared to +S e rats, decreases of Mn concentration appeared in plasma, heart, and t ibia of VFC-fed -Se rats and in brain, heart, liver and tibia of TY-fe d -Se rats. There was also a little imbalance in Ca, Mg, Na, K, and Cu caused by Se deficiency. The results indicated that Se deficiency ind uced the mineral imbalance in rats, especially an increase in Fe and d ecrease in Mn, which was more severe in TY-fed rats than VFC-fed rats. However, TY cannot be used as a model for both Se and other mineral d eficiency because of the extra minerals except Se found in TY. Instead , VFC can be employed, which contains fewer minerals except Se than TY and also can produce a severe degree of Se deficiency.