Health Tooty Fruity

Selenium is found in some soils in the United States and Canada. Since vegetables and grains are transported from different areas, people generally receive enough selenium in their diet. Brazil nuts are especially high in selenium, although they do vary in their content. Food sources of selenium can be seen in Graph 13-1.

Infant formulas based upon cow’s milk may be deficient in selenium. Selenium supplements are available in several forms. Sodium selenate is very well absorbed, but much of it is lost in urine before it can be used. Only about half of the selenium in sodium selenite is absorbed. Selenomethionine occurs naturally in foods and is about 90 percent absorbed. Special selenium-fortified yeast can also contain selenomethionine. RDAs and adequate intakes (AI) for selenium are shown in Table 13-2.

Selenium