Selenium-enriched eggs: from improvement of egg quality to improvement of human diet

Abstract

Selenium deficiency is widespread across the globe. Recently we have come to a conclusion that Se-enriched eggs could be used as an important delivery system of this trace mineral for human. In particular, development and commercialisation of the organic form of selenium (Sel-Plex, Alltech, USA) opened a new era in production of selenium-enriched products. It was shown that egg selenium content could be easily increased when organic selenium is included in the diet at a level to provide 0.4-0.8 ppm Se. As a result, the technology for production of eggs delivering ~50% (30-35 µg) of selenium RDA was developed and successfully tested. Currently companies all over the world produce and market Se-enriched eggs. For example, in Russia there are 12 poultry farms in various regions producing se-enriched egs, while in Ukraine RozDon poultry farm produces more than 1 million Se-enriched eggs daily. Prices for those eggs varied from country to country and are similar to those for free-range eggs. Clinical studies conducted with healthy volunteers in Ukraine showed that consumption of two Se-enriched eggs per day for 8 weeks significantly increased Se level in plasma. Therefore, Se-enriched eggs are considered to be an effective solution of the Se-deficiency in various countries all over the world.