Laucke Bio-Fort Selenium

With Laucke Bio-Fort products you will get better cellular uptake and utilisation of key micronutrients like Selenium, together with longer-term bioavailability, and the safety of avoiding accidental inorganic chemical overdose.

SELENIUM AVAILABILITY
While the ultimate source of all Selenium is the rocks and soils of our terrestrial environment, it is known that Selenium is not evenly distributed in soils, is not necessarily readily available to plants, and that the levels of availability are falling.

While some areas of the world are rich in Selenium, many areas are known to be deficient. The availability of what Selenium is present can be affected by leaching by rain and irrigation, by aeration and by the addition of chemicals.

Therefore, it is a matter of concern that available Selenium levels in humans are variable, and are reportedly falling, leading to increasing levels of Selenium deficiency.

While various methods are used to supplement Selenium in animals, such interventionist methods as “chemical drenching” are not considered desirable nor suitable for humans. Authorities in Finland and New Zealand, where soils have been recognised as being Selenium deficient, have instituted Selenium Supplementation of soils using plant fertilisation to raise the amount of Selenium in parts of the food chain.

BIOFORTIFICATION
Biofortification may be defined as the process of producing food crops that are rich in bio-available nutrients

This process of Bio-Fortification is typically performed by including higher levels of Bioavailable nutrients in plants, which may be then directly or indirectly consumed as food. Plants take up these extra nutrients because more nutrients are made available to the plant, or because plant breeders actively select plant varieties that more efficiently seek and include nutrients.

With food crops that are rich in bio-available micronutrients, farmers can provide crops that provide increased nutrition and health benefits.

Increased micronutrient and vitamin density in grain destined for human consumption may alleviate deficiencies that affect a majority of the world’s population. Food researchers have been focussing on iron [Fe], zinc [Zn], iodine [I], vitamin A, and most recently, Selenium [Se]. HarvestPlus is an example of an international, interdisciplinary research program that seeks to reduce micronutrient malnutrition by harnessing the powers of agriculture and nutrition research to breed nutrient-dense staple foods. Its current focus is on Fe, Zn and vitamin A.

Substantial genetic (genotypic) variation has been found in cereals for Zn, Fe and vitamin A (Graham et al, 2001), which means that varieties high in these nutrients can be bred. Moreover, agronomic methods involving application to the soil, in irrigation water or to the leaves (foliar) can be effective for Zn (soil and to a lesser extent foliar), Fe (foliar only), and I (irrigation water) (Rengel et al, 1999). However, Selenium can be added to plants more efficiently than these and most other micronutrients by any of these methods.

Biofortification with Selenium may involve supplementation of livestock, fertilisation of food crops or breeding food crop varieties with enhanced Selenium uptake efficiency to achieve higher Selenium density in edible parts. Supplementation of livestock with Selenium is unlikely to be an efficient strategy to increase Selenium level in the human population. In New Zealand, little increase in the Selenium content of human foods was observed after the introduction of Selenium supplementation for farm animals in the 1960s (Thomson & Robinson, 1980). However, Selenium in the selenate form is readily taken up by plants, converted into organic forms (which are very suitable for humans and animals), and loaded into grains and other edible parts.

The addition of selenate to NPK fertilisers for use on crops and pastures in Finland since 1984 has been an effective and safe method to increase the entire population’s Selenium status (Aro et al, 1995). This fertilisation approach can be termed agronomic Biofortification. Selenium fertilisation has generally not been found to increase yield in most crops, although some researchers have found yield increases (Hartikainen, 2005). Another option is plant breeding, or genetic biofortification, which represents a self-sustaining Selenium biofortification strategy. As noted above, substantial variability exists within cereal crop varieties for Zn, Fe and other nutrients (Graham et al, 2001). However, because grain Selenium concentration is mostly determined by the amount of available Selenium in the soil, with genotypic variation small in comparison, (Lyons et al, 2005), a breeding approach may not be worthwhile. Biofortification is likely to be the most feasible method to increase Selenium status in most situations as it represents a food systems approach that can deliver increased Selenium to a whole population safely, effectively, efficiently and in the most suitable chemical forms. A food systems paradigm encompasses an agriculture that aims not only at productivity and sustainability, but also at improved nutrition (Welch & Graham, 1999).

Field and glasshouse trials have been conducted in South Australia by researchers from the University of Adelaide’s School of Agriculture & Wine, and the most efficient methods of Selenium biofortification have been adopted by Laucke Flour Mills.

ADVANTAGES OF CEREAL GRAINS BIOFORTIFIED WITH SELENIUM:

More efficient absorption by the body than inorganic forms of Selenium, and thus greater bioavailability.
Absorption from the gut of vitamin C is not reduced by organic Selenium forms in biofortified cereals, unlike the form sodium selenite.
Longer-term retention in the body. Most biofortified Selenium is in the selenomethionine form. This form is incorporated into muscle tissue and the Selenium released when required, whereas a substantial proportion of inorganic Selenium (sodium selenate & sodium selenite) is excreted. More on selenomethionine below.
Cereals biofortified with Selenium have significantly higher antioxidant activity (ability to scavenge damaging free radicals, and protection against lipid peroxidation) (Hu et al, 2004; Xu & Hu, 2004).
Bio-Fort wheat is likely to be one of the most effective Selenium forms to protect against cancer. In animal trials in the USA high-Selenium wheat was the most effective Selenium form in reducing the incidence of colon cancer precursors (Finley & Davis, 2001).
Selenium taken in the form of Bio-Fort wheat products provide the added benefits of whole grains. For example, phytate, which is abundant in bran, is one of the best natural anti-cancer substances known. Whole-grains also provide additional dietry fibre, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, and many additional antioxidants and beneficial phytochemicals.
Milled Bio-Fort grain provides an even distribution of Selenium concentration throughout the grain ('wholegrain/wholemeal' and 'white' flour alike) - unlike other trace minerals (Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, etc), Selenium is well distributed throughout the entire grain and not just in the outer 'bran' layers.
Minimal likelihood of ingesting too much Selenium, because the Selenium is incorporated as part of food.

SELENOMETHIONOINE:

Selenomethionine (Se-meth) is the Selenium analogue of the sulphur amino acid, methionine, in which the sulphur is replaced by Selenium.
Se-meth is the major nutritional source of Selenium for higher animals and humans
Since higher animals and humans are unable to synthesise Se-meth, yet from it all needed forms of Selenium are produced, Se-meth meets the criteria of an essential acid.
Accordingly, Se-meth, or enriched food sources thereof, are appropriate forms of Selenium for human nutritional supplementation.
It is generally better absorbed from the gut than are the inorganic Selenium forms.
In high-Selenium wheat, maize and soybeans, 51-82% of the Selenium was found to be in the Se-meth form.
Stored in muscle tissue, and is also rapidly taken up by the brain.
It is effective at increasing the activity of the antioxidant selenoenzyme, glutathione peroxidase, and also effective at increasing immunocompetence.
No human case of Se-meth poisoning has been reported (Schrauzer, 2003).

Importance of wheat as a dietary selenium source:
Selenium is generally more bioavailable from plant forms than from animal foodstuffs, and wheat Selenium is one of the most bioavailable forms (Lyons et al, 2003). Norway’s population, despite a modest total Selenium intake, has the highest serum Selenium level in Europe at 119 µg/l. The probable explanation is that their major selenium source is relatively-high-Selenium North American wheat. In a Norwegian study, Meltzer et al (1992) demonstrated the high bioavailability of wheat-Selenium by feeding trial participants Selenium-rich bread providing 100, 200 or 300 µg Selenium daily for 6 weeks. Serum selenium increased in a dose-response manner by 20, 37 and 53 µg/l, respectively, in the three groups (p<0.001).

Wheat enriched with Selenium by foliar application was found to be highly effective in raising plasma Selenium (53% increase after 6 weeks of 25 µg/d Selenium from wheat) in a Serbian study. Glutathione peroxidase activity in blood increased and oxidative stress parameters decreased (Djujic et al 2000a). A follow-up study found that Selenium-enriched wheat increased levels of copper, iron and zinc in erythrocytes, compared to individuals consuming low-Selenium wheat (Djujic et al 2000b). This is the first time such interactions have been reported, and further studies are warranted in view of the billions of people who are Fe (Iron) and/or Zn (Zinc) deficient.

References:
Aro A, Alfthan G, Varo P 1995. Effects of supplementation of fertilizers on human selenium status in Finland. Analyst 120: 841-843.

Graham RD, Welch RM, Bouis HE 2001. Assessing micronutrient malnutrition through enhancing the nutritional quality of staple foods: principles, perspectives and knowledge gaps. Adv Agron 70: 77-142.

Djujic IS, Jozanov-Stankov ON, Milovac M, Jankovic V, Djermanovic V 2000a. Bioavailability and possible benefits of wheat intake naturally enriched with selenium and its products. Biol Trace Elem Res 77: 273-285.

Djujic IS, Jozanov-Stankov ON, Djermanovic V, Demajo M, Bosni O 2000b. Availability of essential trace elements and their interactions in blood of humans consuming selenium enriched wheat. Selenium 2000, Venice, October 1-5 (poster). Online, acc. 29/11/2001, URL: www-tiresias.bio.unipd.it/HomeSele/postlist.htm

Finley JW, Davis CD 2001. Selenium (Se) from high-selenium broccoli is utilized differently than selenite, selenate and selenomethionine, but is more effective in inhibiting colon carcinogenesis. Biofactors 14: 191-196.

Graham RD, Welch RM, Bouis HE 2001. Addressing micronutrient malnutrition through enhancing the nutritional quality of staple foods: principles, perspectives and knowledge gaps. Adv Agron 70: 77-142.

Hartikainen H 2005. Biogeochemistry of selenium and its impact on food chain quality and human health. J Trace Elem Med Biol In Press.

Hu Q, Xu J, Chen L 2005. Antimutagenicity of selenium-enriched rice on mice exposure to cyclophosphamide and mitomycin C. Cancer Lett 220: 29-35.

Lyons G, Stangoulis J, Graham R 2003. High-selenium wheat: biofortification for better health. Nutr Res Rev 16: 45-60.

Lyons GH, Lewis J, Lorimer MF, Holloway RE, Brace DM, Stangoulis JCR, Graham RD 2004. High-selenium wheat: agronomic biofortification strategies to improve human nutrition. Food Agric Environ 2(1): 171-178.

Lyons GH, Ortiz-Monasterio I, Stangoulis JCR, and Graham RD 2004. Selenium concentration in wheat grain: Is there sufficient genotypic variation to use in breeding? Plant Soil 269: 369-380.

Rengel Z, Batten GD, Crowley DE 1999. Agronomic approaches for improving the micronutrient density in edible portions of field crops. Field Crops Res 60: 27-40.

Schrauzer GN 2003. The nutritional significance, metabolism and toxicology of selenomethionine. Adv Food Nutr Res 47: 73-112.

Thomson CD, Robinson MF 1980. Selenium in human health and disease with emphasis on those aspects peculiar to New Zealand. Am J Clin Nutr 33: 303-323

Welch RM, Graham RD 1999. A new paradigm for world agriculture: meeting human needs. Productive, sustainable, nutritious. Field Crops Res 60: 1-10.

Xu J, Hu Q 2004. Effect of foliar application of selenium on the antioxidant activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of selenium-enriched rice. J Agric Food Chem 52: 1759-1763.

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Laucke Flour Mills Pty Ltd
Strathalbyn, South Australia
Bridgewater on Loddon, Victoria
2 Callington Rd Strathalbyn SA 5255
PO Box 200 Strathalbyn SA 5255
E-mail: bread@laucke.com.au
Phone: (08) 8536 5555
Fax: (08) 8536 3636
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