Inorganic versus organic selenium supplementation: a review

Area of Science:

• Animal Nutrition
• Trace Element Metabolism
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Selenium is a vital dietary trace element crucial for health, growth, and physiological functions.
• Understanding selenium's role is essential due to its widespread biological importance.
• Recent research has rapidly expanded knowledge in this field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of organic and inorganic selenium's effects on animal physiology.
• To summarize impacts on growth performance and carcass traits.
• To assess effects on egg production, quality, and selenium bioavailability.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on organic and inorganic selenium supplementation in animals.
• Analysis of data concerning growth, carcass yield, and egg parameters.
• Evaluation of selenium uptake and glutathione peroxidase activity in tissues and plasma.

Main Results:

• Organic and inorganic selenium forms exhibit varying effects on animal growth and carcass characteristics.
• Differences observed in daily egg production and egg quality metrics.
• Variations in selenium tissue uptake and plasma glutathione peroxidase activity based on selenium source.

Conclusions:

• The source of selenium (organic vs. inorganic) influences animal performance and physiological responses.
• Optimizing selenium supplementation requires consideration of its chemical form.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the benefits of different selenium sources.