Selenium Content of Brown Rice Grown in Japan

Abstract

Selenium contents of rice grown in Japan were analyzed by various methods. For the comparison of analytical methods, both fluorometry and neutron activation analysis gave reliable results. When two neutron activation analyses, measurements of activated ⁷⁵Se and ^77mSe, were used, average selenium contents o.f the 28 brown rice samples grown in Hokkaido, Hokuriku, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu were 32ng/g dry weight (range: 13 —83mg/g) by ⁷⁵Se and 36ng/g (range: 16 — 88 ng/g) by ^77mSe. From the data obtained, we concluded that the selenium content of brown rice grown in Japan was 30—40 ng/g on the average.