Selenium yeast
Korhola, M.; Vainio, A.; Edelmann, K.
Annals of Clinical Research 18(1): 65-68
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-4762 PMID: 3521441 Document Number: 277496
Baker's yeast is able to assimilate carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur sources and a large number of minerals and trace elements into a palatable, nutritious product. The metabolism of yeast is precisely controlled during the production growth phase and thus it is possible to estimate the composition of the product by controlling the raw materials. Because of existing deficiencies in the availability of certain trace elements, mainly selenium, in the Finnish diet, the possibilities for enriching yeast with that essential trace element about 5 years ago were examined and a special yeast product with a Se concentration of 500 mg/kg DM has been developed. Se was expected, because of its structural similarity to sulphur, to replace sulphur in the biosynthetic reactions of the yeast cell. The incorporation and distribution of Se in yeast with radioactive selenium [75Se] has been studied and analysis of the protein fraction of Se yeast has shown that Se is present in all the major soluble proteins. Selenomethionine was identified as the major Se-containing compound in the protein fraction as well as in the whole cell.