Effect of selenium supplements on the distribution of selenium among serum proteins in cattle

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the amount and chemical form of dietary Se on the distribution of Se among serum proteins. Six growing calves were assigned in a completely randomized design to receive diets containing either adequate (0.41 microgram/g) or excess (0.73 microgram/g) dietary Se. Proteins in serum collected from the calves were separated into albumin, glutathione peroxidase, and selenoprotein P fractions, and the concentration of Se in each was determined. The concentration of Se within serum was elevated by dietary Se supplementation. The selenoprotein P fraction within serum contained the largest percentage of Se among the serum proteins. In a second study, 12 mature cows were assigned to receive one of four experimental salt mixes containing 20, 60, or 120 micrograms of Se as sodium selenite/g of salt mix; the fourth treatment was 60 micrograms of Se as selenized yeast/g of salt mix. Cows given salt with 120 micrograms of Se as selenite or 60 micrograms of Se as selenized yeast had the highest concentrations of Se in whole blood; however, concentrations of Se in serum did not differ among treatments. Concentrations of Se in the protein fractions within serum were not affected by treatment. Within serum, the highest concentration of Se was in the selenoprotein P fraction (31.6 ng/ml), the smallest concentration was in the glutathione peroxidase fraction (4.7 ng/ml), and an intermediate amount of Se was obtained from the albumin fraction (8.5 ng/ml). In conclusion, selenized yeast and selenite as sources of Se for supplementation of cattle resulted in similar patterns of Se distribution among proteins in serum. The greatest concentration of Se was found in the selenoprotein P fraction, which may contribute to Se transportation or function as an antioxidant.