Cariostasis by moderate doses of selenium in the rat model

The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of dietary selenium present during tooth development on dental caries. Ten-day pregnant rats received either distilled drinking water or water containing 0.8 ppm or 2.4 ppm selenium, as sodium selenite or selenomethionine, until the pups were weaned. Buccal caries were measured in the pups after being fed a MIT--200 diet for 7 wk. Moderate levels (0.8 ppm) of developmental selenium significantly reduced caries in male rats when compared to control rats or to rats receiving high levels of selenium (2.4 ppm). The results indicated that moderate doses of selenium were cariostatic.