Effect of Dietary Selenite on Hepatic Organic Solvent-Soluble Lipofuscin Pigments

Abstract

Supplementation of selenium as sodium selenite results in an increase in hepatic organic solvent-soluble lipofuscin pigments, the metabolic end products of lipid peroxidation. Weanling mice fed a basal diet containing 0.05 ppm selenium had a significant increase in hepatic organic solvent-soluble lipofuscin pigments and glutathione peroxidase activity following supplementation of an additional 0.1 ppm selenium as sodium selenite from 5 to 9 months of age. Normal levels of vitamin E (30 mg/kg) were insufficient to protect against the oxidative effect of this increased dose of selenite. However, 10 times the normal level of vitamin E markedly suppressed this oxidative effect.