Dietary selenium supplementation of pigs and broilers as a way of producing selenium enriched meat

Serbia is a selenium (Se) deficient area. In the food chain animals accumulate Se in tissues, thus meat is a good source of this microelement. The aim of the research is to study the effects of different forms and doses of dietary Se in pigs and broilers on muscle and liver tissue Se concentrations, as well as to assess the possibility of using selenized meat as a Se source in the Belgrade area. Pigs (24) were randomly assigned in 4 groups: control and groups supplemented with Na-selenite: 0.10, 0.30 mgSe/kg feed and selenized yeast 0.30 mgSe/kg. Chicks (42) were assigned in 7 groups supplemented with 0.05, 0.10 and 0.30 mgSe/kg feed as Na-selenite or selenized yeast. Se content in muscle and liver samples was determined by AAS. Serum Se content in 54 healthy adult subjects (13 from Barajevo and 41 from inner city area) was determined by AAS. In all supplemented broilers Se-yeast was more effective in raising muscle Se content than Na-selenite. The most efficient increase in tissue Se content in pigs was obtained with 0.30 mg Se/kg feed supplemented as Se-yeast. Plasma Se levels in man were low, being significantly lower in subjects from Barajevo compared with the inner city residents (p<0.05). The use of Se-enriched pork and poultry meat in quantities according to dietary habits would have beneficial health effects specially in Se deficient rural areas where home grown feedstuffs are commonly used.