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Selenium biofortification of lettuce: study of selenium bioaccessibility and speciation in the edible portion of the plant

Grant number: 14/15425-0
Support Opportunities:Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
Start date: November 01, 2014
End date: April 30, 2015
Field of knowledge:Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
Principal Investigator:Solange Cadore
Grantee:Emanueli Do Nascimento da Silva
Supervisor: Francesco Cubadda
Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
Institution abroad: Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Italy  
Associated to the scholarship:12/15020-4 - Bioaccessibility and bioavailability of nutrients and toxic elements in lettuce (Lactuca sativa), BP.DR

Abstract

Whereas selenium (Se) is quite important for human health and well-being it has not been comprehensively addressed in this Doctoral Thesis. Therefore, the objective of this work is to focus on this essential element during the internship to be developed abroad. Selenium is a biologically powerful element that has been linked to biochemical processes in plants, microorganisms and especially in animals and humans. In humans, selenium is an essential element, being incorporated as selenocysteine in enzymes and proteins; it plays a role in several physiological processes by acting with thyroid hormone and insulin and participates in the regulation of cell growth and fertility maintenance. Selenium deficiency leads to risk of heart failure, liver disease, and may cause hair loss, infertility, and other diseases, and it has been associated to increased risk of certain types of cancer. The recommended intake is generally 55 ¼g/day for humans, even though higher dietary intakes may be necessary for optimization of the activity of specific selenoproteins. Seafood and beef liver are rich in this element while grains and other meats, as well as fruits and vegetables, contain smaller amounts of Se; nevertheless cereal grains are generally major contributors to selenium intake mainly due to large consumption. It has to be considered that, however, the total amount of the element in food is not a good predictor of the amount absorbed by the human body, considering that the absorption process critically depends on the form of the element that is released in the gut after gastrointestinal digestion. One area that merits further investigation is Se levels in leafy vegetables such as lettuce, which are poorly characterized in Brazil, as well as the species that are effectively absorbed by the human body. In principle, if these food items provide a significant amount of selenium in a bioavailable form they could be effective means to facilitate the achievement of an optimal Se status in the context of an healthy diet. Thus, this study aims to explore Se biofortification in lettuce and evaluate its bioaccessibility and speciation after in vitro simulated human gastrointestinal digestion. The possible effect of Se on the absorption of other elements like Fe, Cd and Zn will also be investigated. (AU)

News published in Agência FAPESP Newsletter about the scholarship:
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VEICULO: TITULO (DATA)
VEICULO: TITULO (DATA)

Scientific publications (5)
(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)
DA SILVA, EMANUELI DO NASCIMENTO; AURELI, FEDERICA; D'AMATO, MARILENA; RAGGI, ANDREA; CADORE, SOLANGE; CUBADDA, FRANCESCO. Selenium Bioaccessibility and Speciation in Selenium-Enriched Lettuce: Investigation of the Selenocompounds Liberated after in Vitro Simulated Human Digestion Using Two-Dimensional HPLC-ICP-MS. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, v. 65, n. 14, p. 3031-3038, . (12/15020-4, 14/15425-0, 13/26855-2)
DA SILVA, EMANUELI DO NASCIMENTO; CIDADE, MIRLA; HEERDT, GABRIEL; RIBESSI, RAFAEL L.; MORGON, NELSON H.; CADORE, SOLANGE. Effect of Selenite and Selenate Application on Mineral Composition of Lettuce Plants Cultivated Under Hydroponic Conditions: Nutritional Balance Overview Using a Multifaceted Study. Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, v. 29, n. 2, p. 371-379, . (12/15020-4, 14/15425-0, 08/57808-1, 13/26855-2)
DA SILVA, EMANUELI DO NASCIMENTO; CADORE, SOLANGE. Bioavailability Assessment of Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Selenium, and Zinc from Selenium-Enriched Lettuce. Journal of Food Science, v. 84, n. 10, p. 2840-2846, . (13/26855-2, 12/15020-4, 14/15425-0, 16/23625-4, 08/57808-1)