INFLUENCE ON THE SELENIUM CONCENTRATION AND SELENIUM INTAKE OF INFANTS OF INGREDIENTS IN SPANISH HOMOGENIZED INFANT BEIKOSTS

Selenium (Se) concentration in 13 homogenised beikosts (''any addition al food used In infant nutrition different from human milk and formula s'') was investigated, as well as the influence of ingredients on Se c oncentration in three beikost types (meat, vegetables and fish). Level s of Se varied widely, ranging from 20 mu g/kg d.w. for mixed vegetabl es to 258 mu g/kg d.w. for hake with rice. These values increased as h igh-protein ingredients (meat or fish) were included. Fish-based beiko sts showed the highest contribution of Se, covering more than 50 % of the RDA in the USA for infants from 6 to 12 months old. The best Se so urces were meat and fish, and their contributions to Se concentrations in the final products were 85.3 % for chicken with rice and 75 % for hake and vegetables.