Natural Dietary Selenium, α-Tocopherol and Effect on Tissue Selenium

Abstract

Pork chops from two to four pigs were collected by cooperators at each of 13 locations in the United States along with a sample of the diet these pigs received from approximately 50 kg body weight to market. The longissimus muscles were analyzed for their selenium concentration, and the diets were analyzed for selenium and α-tocopherol. The states of origin, selenium concentrations (ppm, air dry) of the diets and of the longissimus muscles (ppm, wet basis) were as follows: Arkansas, 0.152, 0.213; Idaho, 0.086, 0.111; Illinois, 0.036, 0.059; Indiana, 0.052, 0.063; Iowa, 0.235, 0.278; Michigan, 0.040, 0.052; Nebraska, 0.330, 0.313; New York, 0.036, 0.046; North Dakota, 0.412, 0.386; South Dakota, 0.493, 0.521; Virginia, 0.027, 0.034; Wisconsin, 0.178, 0.125; and Wyoming, 0.158, 0.311. A significant (P<.01) linear correlation of 0.95 was established between dietary selenium and tissue selenium concentration. No relationship was apparent between α-tocopherol concentration and tissue selenium.