Dietary Control of Selenium Volatilization in the Rat

Abstract

Rats injected with single subacute doses of selenite (2.0 mg Se/kg) volatilized selenium in amounts that depended upon the diet fed previously. Volatilization was minimal, about 10% of the dose, with a good purified basal diet, and with certain crude diets. Volatilization could be increased two- to three-fold by adding 5 ppm of selenium to the basal diet, by increasing the protein and methionine content of the basal diet, or by feeding appropriate crude materials. These latter included 2 commercial rat feeds and a combination of whole wheat bread, milk and lettuce. The volatilizing activity in the commercial feed did not appear to reside solely in its content of selenium, nor of protein and methionine. A large number of nutrients and food materials tested separately appeared to be devoid of volatilizing activity, including linseed meal, a substance that minimizes the effects of chronic selenium poisoning in rats.