Benefits of organic selenium in feeding broiler breeders and laying hens

Tkiva pilećeg embrija i spermatozoidi obiluju dugolančanim višestruko nezasićenim masnim kiselinama što ih čini posebno osjetljivim prema peroksidaciji lipida. Selen kao sastavni dio antioksidativnog enzima glutation–peroksidaze, posebno je važan u održavanju odgovarajuće antioksidativne obrane za vrijeme embrionalnog razvoja i u spermatogenezi. Prikladne koncentracije (0,3 – 0,5 mg/kg) organskog selena u hranidbi nesilica stvaraju značajno veću količinu selena u jajima u usporedbi s istim koncentracijama anorganskog selena. O količini selena u jajima ovisi antioksidativni status pilića tijekom embrionalnog razvoja i u prvim danima života, pa se većim količinama selena povećava i vitalnost pilića. Konzumnim jajima obogaćenim selenom moguće je povećati količinu selena u prehrani ljudi, što bi doprinijelo prevenciji raznih bolesti, prvenstveno kancerogenih oboljenja.Chicken embryo tissues and spermatozoa are rich in long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and as a result are very vulnerable to lipid peroxidation. Selenium as an integral part of glutathion peroxidase is a crucial factor in maintaining appropriate antioxidant defence during embrionic development and spermatogenesis. Provision of organic selenium in concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 ppm in hen’s feed tends to accumulate 30 % more selenium in the eggs when compared with same concentrations of inorganic selenium. Antioxidant status of chicks during embrional development and neonatal life is related to amount of selenium in eggs. Therefore higher egg selenium content increases vitality of chicks in first few days posthatch. Eggs enriched with selenium can be placed in functional food category and can substantially improve human selenium status, thus help preventing various diseases, especially cancer