Selenium bioavailability of fish based weaning foods

A depletion-repletion study of 11 weeks on 87 male Sprague-Dawley rats was carried out to evaluate the selenium (Se) balance of three diets: BEIKOST ( with the Se from lyophilised fish based homogenised weaning food), REFERENC E (with sodium selenite), and the so called DEFICIENT (with no Se in it). A fter a 4 weeks of depletion, the three diets were evaluated and compared wi th a group of rats fed with the CONTROL diet, a diet like REFERENCE one. Du ring depletion, plasmatic and hepatic glutation peroxidase (GSH-Px) activit y declined (90 %), recovering the physiological levels faster the rats fed with REFERENCE than with BEIKOST diets (repletion). However, almost all rat s fed with BEIKOST diet riched the original level at the end of the trial. Plasmatic and hepatic GSH-Px activity showed a positive correlation (r > 0. 64, p < 0.001, n = 96) with the Se content in heart, kidneys, liver and mus cle.