Absorption, excretion, and retention of selenium from a high selenium yeast in men with a high intake of selenium

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of a single dose of Selenium (Se) from yeast given to humans with a habitual long-term daily intake at a supra-nutritional level.

Methods: Twelve healthy males with a daily supplemental intake of 300 µg Se as selenised yeast over 10 weeks were supplemented with a single dose of 327 µg as stable ⁷⁷Se incorporated into selenised yeast manufactured by the same standardised process (SelenoPrecise®, Pharma Nord, Denmark).

Results: Absorption of Se from ⁷⁷Se-enriched yeast was 89±4% and the retention was 74±6%. The ⁷⁷Se excretion from the single-dose was 47±15 µg in urine and 37±13 µg in faeces. The maximum, enriched ⁷⁷Se concentration in plasma was 9.8±1.5 µg/l and the time to maximum was 9.2 hours. The plasma halftime of ⁷⁷Se was longer with increasing time; 1.7 days for the initial phase (½-2 days), 3.0 days for the middle phase (2–3 days) and 11.1 days for the later phase (3–14 days).

Conclusion: The Se from the standardised Se-enriched yeast was well absorbed and retained in the body.

• selenium yeast
• stable isotope
• humans
• pharmacokinetics
• absorption
• excretion

Acknowledgements

We thank the CRO, Narayana Research, Stumpedyssevej 13, 2970 Horsholm, Denmark, who monitored this study. Also thanks to the volunteers who participated in the study for their collaboration and enthusiasm. Finally, the authors wish to thank PharmaNord, Vejle, Denmark who financed the project.