Speciation and bioavailability of selenium from processed and tailor-made fishery products

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 95.0372

Key words (English)

Selenium; speciation; bioavailability; fishery products

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: FAIR-CT95-0771

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 4. Frame Research Programme - 4.3 Biomedical/Health research

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

RIVO/DLO (NL), TNO (NL), MAFF CSL (UK), Nestec Ltd. (CH), IN-DF (N), Lunds Univ. (S), IFR (UK), Royaal BV (NL)

Abstract (English)

On-line speciation of water extractable selenoproteins by gelfiltration ICP-MS was developed and showed good reproducibility. Eel, cod and rainbow trout contained a high level of selenium in high molecular weight fractions of water soluble proteins, most likely as a specific or non-specific selenoprotein. Flat fish species (brill, dab, turbot, witch and plaice) contained a high level of selenium in low molecular weight fractions. These compounds may be an intermediate form in the specific selenoprotein synthesis.
Farming of selenium enriched fish was found possible with organic selenium as dietary selenium source. The palatability of the selenium enriched feed was a problem as fish would reject the feed. This problem was solved by feeding the fish gelatinous capsules containing the enriched selenium feed. The methionine level of the feed did not influence the incorporation of selenium into fish muscle.
Harmonisation and validation of selenium stable isotope analysis was considerd necessary for the determination and the comparison of selenium absorption/retention data using stable isotope methodology between participants. These data were validated against reference urine and fecal samples. Comparison of isotopic ratios and of resulting absorption and retention data revealed that three out of four participating laboratories were able to produce comparable stable isotope ratio data and consequently also human absorption and retention results.
The human bioavailability study comparing various intrinsically 74Se-labelled cooked and salted fish species with 77Se-labelled yeast and 82Se-selenate has been completed. The analysis of the fecal and urine samples has been started and results are expected at the end of this year.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 95.0372