Selenium content in Bg 350 variety of rice consumed by Sri Lankans

Abstract

Selenium is considered as an essential micronutrient. The daily requirement of selenium is 55 µg. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) has drawn their attention to establish the micronutrient range of selenium, required by the human body. Report from China has shown that an ecological correlation exists with the selenium content in the soil and increased mortality due to cancer and cardiovascular diseases with light intake of selenium. This led to the interest in assessing the nutritional status of selenium. Rice is the staple food of Sri Lankans and studies on selenium content in rice grown in Sri Lanka have not been reported. The present study reports the selenium content in Bg 350 variety of rice and soil obtained from twelve districts (Gampaha, Colombo, Matara, Hambantota, Kegalle, Matale, Anuradhapura, Pollanaruwa, Kurunegalle, Puttalam, Ampara and Moneragalle), in Sri Lanka determined using Hydride Generation Atomic Absorption spectrometer (HGAAS). The results of the study showed that selenium content in rice and soil obtained from Gampaha and Colombo districts were very low and less than the detectable levels of the instrument (0.5 μg/kg). Except for rice and soil from Pollanaruwa district that had a very high selenium content in rice (61.2 μg/kg) and soil (69.8 μg/kg), the respective values from other districts were low [13.8 μg/kg (Kegalle) -6.3 μg/kg (Anuradhapura)] and [20.3 μg/kg (Matara) -9.5 μg/kg (Matale)].