This narrative review covers selenium in soils, plants, animals and people and argues for raising wheat selenium through fertilization and breeding, with Australia as the main case. It summarizes reported intake ranges, recommended intakes, upper limits and chronic selenosis in China. All figures are secondary, drawn from earlier studies the authors cite.
Key numbers
- Reported global adult intake range: about 7 µg/day in Chinese Keshan disease areas to 5000 µg/day in Chinese selenosis areas (p. 49).
- Recommended intakes reported: US allowance 55 µg/day; Australian 85 µg/day (men) and 70 µg/day (women) (p. 48).
- Upper limits reported: WHO 400 µg/day and EU 300 µg/day per adult; US reference dose 350 µg/day for a 70 kg adult (p. 49).
- Reported chronic selenosis in Enshi County, China: soil up to 8 mg/kg, intakes up to 7 mg/day; symptoms include nail thickening and cracking, hair loss and skin lesions (p. 49).
- Reported Finnish cereal grain selenium: 0.01 mg/kg or less before the 1984 fertilizer program; spring wheat about 0.25 mg/kg afterward (p. 52).
- Estimated Australian mean intake: around 75 µg/day (p. 48).
Methods (brief)
Narrative literature review without a stated search protocol.
Evidence fitness
Useful as a secondary summary of reported ranges, limits and the rationale for biofortification. Values should be checked against primary sources before use; the limits it reports are as of 2003 and may not be current.
Limitations
Not systematic; the authors advocate a particular intervention; support was acknowledged from the Australian grains research body, the Australian Research Council and an analytical services unit.
Related evidence
Update history
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