Abstract
The present work is an attempt to study the level of selenium in (63) samples of human breast milk which were collected in Tikrit region. The concentrations ranged (27.4 - 22.8 mg/L), while the concentration in (143) samples of commercially available infant formula sold in Iraq the concentration was ranged (33.6-22.2 mg/L). From (124) samples animal milk the concentration ranged (22.0- 12.0 mg/L). Selenium content of the samples was determined by atomic absorption – hydride generation. The mean concentration of selenium in the topsoil and subsoil was (0.17, 0.21 mg/kg) , which determined by Graphite Flameless Atomic Absorption spectroscopy. Selenium is an integral part of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, a long with vitamin E –Se acts as a part of anti-oxidant defense system of cell protecting lipids in cell membranes from the destructive effects of H2O2 and super oxide generated by excess oxygen. in the same mothers, was detected by HPLC, And the level of this vitamin was ranged between (0.82-1.13 µg/dL).
Highlights
Selenium is a mineral that has been officially as essential to human health since the 1980 s
The values correspond to the average total selenium content in the soil of the low Se keshan disease in china (0.112mg/kg) range (0.059-0.10 mg/kg) (92),other low values have been in the world reported such as (0.198mg/kg) and (0.23mg/kg ) from Yugoslavia (Jovic,1998, Ma KSIMOVIC .Z etal,1992) less than 0.1mg/kg from Newzeland, Hungary and Finland(Westermark etal.,1977, Gondi etal.,1992)
The low selenium content Tikrit area may be attributed to the nature of the soil in the area studied which is a well –drained, non saline to moderately saline, calcareous, Loamy soils with sandy topsoil
Summary
Selenium is a mineral that has been officially as essential to human health since the 1980 s. Increasing evidence supports the claim that selenium is an essential dietary micronutrient for human (Picciano,1985).Selenium is of particular interest in infant nutrition because human milk is the only source of this element during the most rapid period of growth. The selenium level in human milk depends on where the mother lives (Trafikowska etal.,1998). This variation reflects selenium content in the soil and, by the same token, the extent of selenium accumulation in the cereals consumed in a particular region by animals and humans.It is well known that selenium concentration in milk depends on mother's intake of the element (Williams etal.,1983)
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