Bioavailability of selenium in mushrooms, Boletus edulis, to young women

The bioavailability of selenium (Se) in mushrooms, Boletus edulis, to young Finnish women was studied by giving them 150 micrograms Se as mushrooms for 4 weeks. The indicators of body selenium status were plasma and erythrocyte Se levels and plasma and platelet glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. The Se level in erythrocytes increased significantly (26%), while only slight enhancement were found in plasma Se and plasma or platelet GSH-Px activity. The results indicate that the metabolism of mushroom-Se is different from that of wheat-Se or sodium selenate. However, by the criteria of plasma Se level or plasma and platelet GSH-Px activity the bioavailability of mushroom-Se is reasonably low.