Lack of an effect of dietary selenium on serum albumin, glucose and urea nitrogen in ewes.

The results of a study on the effect of dietary selenium administered with vitamin E on serum levels of albumin, glucose and urea nitrogen in ewes are reported. In October, at the onset of breeding, after ten months on a dystrophogenic diet, mean serum levels of albumin (g/dl), glucose (mg/dl) and urea nitrogen (mg/dl) were respectively 3.5, 52.9 and 12.8, in 65 Se-deficient ewes and 3.6, 51.7 and 14.3 in 65 Se-adequate ewes. Despite a significant difference in the serum level of urea nitrogen between Se-deficient and Se-adequate groups, no consistent effect of dietary selenium was apparent.