Abstract

VINCHIRA, JE  and  MUNOZ-RAMIREZ, AP. SELENIUM: TARGET NUTRIENT TO IMPROVE NUTRITIONAL  COMPOSITION OF CULTURED FISH. Rev. Med. Vet. Zoot. [online]. 2010, vol.57, n.1, pp.59-75. ISSN 0120-2952.

Selenium is a trace mineral that forms both inorganic compounds like selenite and selenate and organic compounds associated with aminoacids like selenomethionine and selenocysteine. The growing functional foods market includes selenium (functional component) in the group of foods with positive effects for human being. This mineral produces benefits for health since it is an important component of Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px), enzyme which protects the organism against oxidation agents. Furthermore, it is recognized that selenium has positive effects in the immune function, activity of the thyroid and fertility. Selenium could be incorporated into fish fillets by nutritional supplementation in the diet. This document presents a short review of the functional foods concept, the main characteristics of selenium and its use in feeding systems to modify the final composition of animal products like fish.

Keywords : Functional food; fillet; glutathione peroxidase; supplementation; requirement.

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