ABSTRACT
Selenium (Se) is an essential element for animals and human beings. An adequate dietary intake of Se is necessary to keep humans, livestock and poultry healthy. Endemic Keshan-Beck disease on Loess Plateau was found to be related with low Se environments. The dietary Se intake of residents in the area of Keshan disease can be increased to 51~62 µg/d when wheat grain Se concentration were enhanced above 100 µg/kg. However, the application methods and the Se fertilizer rates need to be considered with different crops and biofortification goals. A questionnaire survey was carried out in two counties to evaluate residents’ dietary Se intake regarding endemic Keshan-Beck disease on Loess Plateau. The results of multiple location field experiment showed that Se application significantly increased grain Se content. The Yangling District, a non-disease area in the Guanzhong Region of the Shaanxi Province, was chosen as control.
