Bratislava Medical Journal Vol.114, No.1, p.12-14, 2013

The present study aims to explore how selenium supplementation affects the element distribution in the liver tissue of rats subjected to strenuous swimming exercise. Thirty-two Spraque-Dawley male rats were equally divided into the four groups: Group 1, normal control group. Group 2, selenium-supplemented, non-swimming (0.6 mg/kg/day sodium selenite) group. Group 3, swimming, no supplementation group. Group 4, swimming, selenium-supplemented (0.6 mg/kg/day sodium selenite) group. After one month, the animals were decapitated and liver tissue samples were collected to determine the levels of lead, cobalt, boron, molybdenum, chromium, sulfur, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, copper, iron, zinc and selenium.

The chromium, molybdenum, iron, sodium and potassium values were higher in the swimming groups, relative to controls. Group 3 had significantly lower lead levels (p<0.001).

The highest cobalt levels were obtained in the Group 1 and that of the Group 2 was higher than in the Groups 3 and 4. The boron values in the Group 3 were higher than those in all other groups. The copper and magnesium levels were higher in the Groups 3 and 4, compared to the Groups 1 and 2. The highest phosphorus levels were found in the Group 1. The highest selenium and zinc values were obtained in the Group 2 and those of the Group 4 were higher than in the Groups 1 and 3. Group 1 had higher selenium and zinc levels than the Group 3. The results of the present study demonstrated that selenium-supplemented rats subjected to strenuous swimming exercise had distinct elements distribution in liver tissue. Also, selenium supplementation offsets the decrease in zinc levels in rats subjected to vigorous swimming (Tab. 3, Ref. 20).