Abstract
Selenium is a trace element which possesses a strong metabolic similarity to sulfur. Early investigators suggested this element was highly toxic and possibly carcinogenic (1,2). However, during the early 1960’s increasing evidence indicated that selenium was an essential nutrient, especially in production animals where supplementation prevented a wide array of disorders (3). More recent support for the essentiality of selenium comes from its ability to maximize growth of mammalian cells in culture, including the clonal growth of normal human fibroblasts (4). Generally, the concentration of selenium needed to stimulate cellular growth is about 50 nM.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
A. T. Diplock, Metabolic aspects of selenium action and toxicity, CRC Crit Rev Toxicol, 4:271 (1976).
A. A. Nelson, O. G. Fitzburgh and H.O. Calvery, Liver tumors following cirrhosis caused by selenium in rats, Cancer Res, 3:230 (1943).
R. J. Shamberger, Selenium Deficiency Diseases in Animals, in: “Biochemistry of Selenium” pp 31–58. Plenum Press, New York (1983).
W. L. McKeehan, W. G. Hamilton, and R. G. Ham, Selenium is an essential trace nutrient for growth of WI-38 diploid human fibroblasts, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 73:2023 (1976).
J. T. Rotruck, A. L. Pope, H. E. Ganther, A. B. Swanson, D. G. Hafeman, and W. G. Hoekstra, Selenium: Biochemical role as a component of glutathione peroxidase, Science, 179:588 (1973).
C. Little, R. Olinescu, K. G. Reid, and P. J. O’Brien, Properties and regulation of glutathione peroxidase, J Biol Chem, 245:3632 (1970).
R. F. Burk, and P. E. Gregory, Some characteristics of 75-Se-P, A selenoprotein found in rat liver and plasma, and comparison of it with selenoglutathione peroxidase, Arch Biochem Biophys, 213:73 (1982).
Keshan Disease Research Group of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Observations on effect of sodium selenite in prevention of Keshan disease, Chin Med J, 92:471 (1979).
J. A. Milner, Selenium and Carcinogenesis, in: “Xenobiotic Metabolism: Nutritional Effects,” J. W. Finley and D. E. Schwass, ed., American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C. (1985).
O. Levander, and V. C. Morris, Dietary selenium levels needed to maintain balance in North American adults consuming self-selected diets, Am J Clin Nutr, 39:809 (1984).
A. M. Smith, M. F. Picciano, and J.A. Milner, Selenium intakes and status of human milk and formula fed infants, Am J Clin Nutr, 35:521 (1981).
J. Kumpulainen, E. Vuori, P. Kuitunen, S. Makinen, and R. Kara, Longitudinal study on the dietary selenium intake of exclusively breast-fed infants and their mothers in Finland, Internat J Vit Nutr, 53:420 (1983).
I. Lombeck, K. Kasperek, B. Bonnermann, L. E. Fienendegen, and H. J. Bremer, Selenium content of human milk, cow’s milk and cow’s milk infant formulas, Eur J Pead, 129:139 (1978).
M. M. F. Williams, Selenium and glutathione peroxidase in mature human milk, Proc Univ Otago Med Sch Dunedin, 61:20 (1983).
T. H. Higashi, Y. Kuroki, and I. Matsuda, Longitudinal changes in selenium content of breast milk, Acta Paediatr Scand, 72:433 (1983).
H. R. Conrad, and A. L. Moxon, Transfer of dietary selenium to milk, J miry Sci, 62:404 (1979).
K. R. Millar, and A. D. Sheppard, Alpha-tocopherol and selenium levels in human and cow’s milk, N Z J Sci, 15:3 (1972).
T. R. Shearer, and D. M. Hadjimarkos, Geographic Distribution of Selenium in Human Milk, Arch Environ Health, 30:230 (1973).
T. P. McCarthy, B. Brodie, J. A. Milner, and R. F. Bevill, Improved method for selenium determination in biological samples by gas chromatography, J. Chromatography, 225:9 (1981).
D. E. Paglia, and W. N. Valentine, Studies on the quantitative and qualitative characterization of the erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase, J Lab Clin Med, 70:158 (1967).
P. E. Johnson, and G. Evans, Relative zinc bioavailability in human breast milk, infant formulas, and cow’s milk, Amer J Clin Nutr, 31:416 (1978).
B. Lonnerdal, C. L. Keen, and L. S. Hurley, Iron, copper, zinc and manganese in milk, Ann Rev Nutr, 1:149 (1978).
B. Lonnerdal, C. L. Keen, and L. S. Hurley, Manganese binding proteins in human and cow’s milk, Amer J Clin Nutr, 41:550 (1985).
U. M. Saarinen, M. A. Siimes and P. R. Dallman, Iron absorption in infants: high bioavailability of breast milk iron as indicated by the extrinsic tag method of iron absorption and by the concentration of serum ferritin, J Pediatr, 91:36 (1977).
B. Lonnerdal, B. Hoffman, and L.S. Hurley, Zinc and copper binding proteins in human milk, Amer J Clin Nutr, 36:1170 (1982).
G. B. Fransson, and B. Lonnerdal, Iron in human milk, J Pediatr, 96:380 (1982).
Y. C. Awasthi, E. Beutler, and S. K. Srivastava, Purification and properties of human erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase, J Biol Chem, 250:5144 (1975).
N. D. Pedersen, P. D. Whanger, P. H. Veswig, and O. H. Muth, Selenium binding proteins in tissues of normal and selenium-responsive myopathic lambs, Bioinorg Chem, 2:33 (1972).
L. Flohe, and W. A. Gunzler, Glutathione peroxidase, in: “Glutathione,” L. Flohe, H. C. Benohr, H. Sies, H. D. Waller, and A. Wendei, ed. pp 133, Academic Press, New York (1974).
Y. Hojo, Selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activity in cow’s milk, Biol Trace Elem Res, 4:233 (1982).
H. E. Ganther, Enzymatic synthesis of dimethyl selenide from sodium selenite in mouse liver extracts, Biochemistry, 5:1089 (1966).
R.A. Sunde, The biochemistry of selenoproteins, JAQCS, 61:1891 (1984).
J. A. McMillan, S. A. Landaw, and F. A. Oski, Iron sufficiency in breast fed infants and the availability of iron from human milk, Pediatrics, 58:686 (1976).
G. B. Fransson, and B. Lonnerdal, Distribution of trace elements and minerals in human and cow’s milk, Pediat Res, 17:912 (1983).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1986 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Milner, J.A., Sherman-Martin, L., Picciano, M.F. (1986). Distribution of Selenium in Human Milk. In: Hamosh, M., Goldman, A.S. (eds) Human Lactation 2. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7207-7_35
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-7207-7_35
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-7209-1
Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-7207-7
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive