Variations in the accumulation, localization and rate of metabolization of selenium in mature Zea mays 2 plants supplied with selenite or selenate

Melanie Longchamp (1) , Maryse Castrec-Rouelle (2) , Philippe Biron (3) , Thierry Bariac (3)

1 UFR 918 - GESE
2 METIS - Milieux Environnementaux, Transferts et Interactions dans les hydrosystèmes et les Sols
3 iEES - Institut d'écologie et des sciences de l'environnement de Paris

Quantification of selenium bioavailability from foods is a key challenge following the discovery of the antioxidant role of this micronutrient in human health. This study presents the uptake, accumulation and rate of metabolization in mature Zea mays plants grown in hydroponic solution supplemented with selenate or selenite. Selenium content was lower in plants supplemented with selenate and accumulated mainly in the leaves compared with selenite-treated plants where the selenium was retained in the roots. Selenite-treated grains accumulated more selenium. Selenate was metabolized less than selenite in whole plants, but in grains selenium was present exclusively as organic selenium compounds. For humans, the bioavailability of organic selenium was evaluated at 90% compared with only 50% for inorganic forms. Our results show that the potential for selenium bioavailability is increased with selenite treatment.

Mots clés: Organo-selenium compounds; Biofortification; Selenium bioavailability; Selenite; Selenate; Enzymatic extraction

Domaines: Chimie

Melanie Longchamp, Maryse Castrec-Rouelle, Philippe Biron, Thierry Bariac. Variations in the accumulation, localization and rate of metabolization of selenium in mature Zea mays 2 plants supplied with selenite or selenate. Food Chemistry, 2015, 182, pp.128-135. ⟨10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.02.137⟩. ⟨hal-01132891⟩