Tolerance of Diets Deficient or Excessive in Selenium by Syrian Hamsters

Abstract

Syrian hamsters were fed torula yeast (TY) diets with 8 Se supplement levels (0.0-10.0 ppm Se as Na2SeO3) or casein (C) diets with 5 supplement levels (0.0-5.0 ppm Se as Na2SeO3) for 25 wk. Whole blood Se, plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity and erythrocyte GSH-Px activity were measured after 5, 10, 15 and 25 wk. At 25 wk hematology was examined and tissue samples analyzed for Se and evaluated for histopathological lesions. While survival was not influenced by dietary Se, food consumption and body weight gain were altered in animals given TY, as those fed 0.0, 0.05 or 10.0 ppm Se consumed less diet. Weight gains at 25 wk were highest in animals at the 0.1 ppm Se level and reduced in those given unsupplemented TY or 10.0 ppm Se supplements. Hemoglobin, hematocrit and red blood cell counts were reduced in females fed the lowest and highest Se supplements with TY diets. With both C and TY, whole blood Se rose with increasing dietary Se and in the case of TY, Se was elevated with each feeding increment, except between the 0.05-0.1 ppm or the 0.25-0.5 ppm levels. Plasma GSH-Px increased with rising Se up to 10 ppm, and erythrocyte GSH-Px activity increased up to 5 ppm Se. Erythrocyte GSH-Px values were higher in animals fed C diets. Histopathological observations were normal at all Se levels. Syrian hamsters tolerated dietary Se from 0.05-5.0 ppm Se for 25 wk of observation without detrimental effects.