Predicting Dietary Selenium Needs to Achieve Target Blood Selenium Levels

Predicting Dietary Selenium Needs to Achieve Target Blood Selenium Levels

In this study, we will evaluate the effectiveness of several doses of oral selenomethionine in raising biomarkers of selenium status including plasma selenium concentrations.

Results of studies with animal tumor models and human clinical trials suggest that the essential nutrient selenium can be anti-tumorigenic if consumed at levels greater than nutritional requirements. If it is possible to increase plasma selenium concentrations above 120 nanograms per milliliter with less than 200 micrograms of selenium daily, then it is possible that supplementation can be accomplished through the use of selenium-containing foods.

Inclusion Criteria:

• able to swallow capsules
• body mass index less than 40

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy
• Chronic liver or kidney disease
• taking medication that might affect liver and/or kidney
• blood pressure 140/90 or higher
• already taking more than 50 micrograms of selenium