selenium yeast lowers cholesterol

Doug Skrecky (oberon@vcn.bc.ca)
Mon, 2 Nov 1998 08:47:17 -0800 (PST)

Nutrition Research 18(4): 735-742 1998
"Selenium Yeast is an Effective in Vitro and in Vivo Antioxidant and Hypolipemic Agent in Normal Hamsters"

Abstract:

Selenium as the selenite, selenomethionine, ebselen and yeast was investigated in an in vitro low density lipoprotein oxidation model to mimic the first step in atherogenesis. Ebselen and selenium yeast were found to be the best antioxidents of the forms of selenium. Selenium yeast was then given in two doses as a supplement to chow-fed hamsters for 15 days. The yeast significantly decreased total plasma cholesterol and the atherogenic index but did not significantly diminish HDL and triglycerides. Selenium yeast significantly decreased plasma lipid peroxides, low density lipoprotein oxidation lag time, and maximum slope of oxidation. These results indicate that selenium yeast is a powerful in vitro and in vivo antioxidant as well as a hypolipemic agent. These two actions could explain the benefit of selenium seen in epidemiology studies.

Additional note by poster:

The selenium yeast used in the above experiment was Re-Natured Selenium yeast from Grow Co., Hackensack, NJ.