ABSTRACT
Selenium (Se) is one of the essential trace elements in human body, with a very narrow concentration range from sufficient to deficient or toxic. Se species in cereals were studied by ultrasonic-assisted enzyme extraction combined with High performance liquid chromatography-inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Extraction of Se species was performed with a digital control ultrasonic cleaner. Selenium species in cereal samples were analyzed by optimized pretreatment and detection methods. Cereals are commonly consumed by humans. Se deficiency can lead to anemia, coronary heart disease, Kashin-beck disease, diabetes, and more than 40 other diseases. High levels of Se can, however, also cause chronic toxic symptoms, such as cirrhosis, liver cancer, tooth, hair and nail loss, eye irritation, and paralysis. The study of Se species in selenium-enriched cereals has become a popular research topic, but the analytical methods used for detecting Se species in cereals are less reported.
