Effect of ascorbic acid on the bioavailability of sodium selenite in selenium-depleted rats as assessed by serum selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity

The effect of ascorbic acid on the bioavailability of sodium selenite was studied in selenium-depleted rats using serum selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity as indicators of the body selenium status. Two groups of male rats were given a single oral dose of selenium (125 μg/kg body weight) as sodium selenite either with or without oral ascorbic acid (30 mg/kg b.w.). Both serum selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity increased significantly (p<0.001) and more than doubled in both groups after selenite supplementation as compared to initial values. The effect of ascorbic acid supplementation on the bioavailability of selenite as assessed by serum selenium and glutathione peroxidase was insignificant. These results demonstrate that oral ascorbic acid supplementation does not interfere with the bioavailability of selenite in selenium-depleted rats under normal feeding conditions.