ISSUE FOCUS 26 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2024 Selenium is an essential trace element. The narrow margin between the minimum requirement and the maximal legal limits of selenium, variation of selenium levels in raw materials, and influences of production processes, makes pet food formulation challenging. By making use of natural body reserves, L-selenomethionine can provide a solution for a safe and continuous supply of selenium to dogs and cats! Selenium is an essential trace element, and dietary supplementation is common practice in food for dogs and cats. However, formulating pet food with the right levels of selenium is challenging. There is a narrow margin between meeting the daily selenium requirements of pets and not exceeding legal limits set by the European Union (EU). The wide variation of selenium in raw materials further complicates maintaining optimum levels. Additionally, the pet food production process (e.g. canning diets) can have a significant effect on the bioavailability of selenium in pet food. This complexity underscores the need to delve deeper into the topic of selenium, with a special focus on differences between plant- and animal-based raw materials and solutions to ensure more reliable selenium availability for our dear four-legged friends. SELENIUM IN MEAT- OR PLANT-BASED DIETS Selenium is an essential nutrient in pet nutrition and is crucial for an optimal antioxidant status, thyroid function, and immune defense. The growing popularity of vegetarian pet diets, prompts further exploration into the application of selenium in various pet foods. In scientific studies evaluating essential nutrients in commercial plant-based pet foods, selenium is often not recorded1.When looking at the essentiality of selenium in plant-based diets for omnivores, human studies show the importance of selenium supplementation of vegetarian or vegan diets. In a recent nutritional evaluation study in humans, selenium was identified as a critical nutrient for vegetarians and vegans2. Examined biomarkers, serum selenium and enzymatic activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX activity), were significantly lower in participants without meat in their diet (Figure 1). While almost none of the omnivores (2.5%) and flexitarians had selenium values below the limit of 50 µg/L, this occurred relatively frequent in people on a vegetarian (33%) or vegan (40%) diet. Selenium concentrations below the reference range, indicates that these participants would have a higher risk for developing health impairments. VARIATION OF SELENIUM IN RAW MATERIALS The above mentioned study of Klein et al (2023) highlights the large difference of selenium availabilSELENIUM, A CRUCIAL ELEMENT IN PET FOOD FORMULATION Pauline Rovers-Paap Principal Relations Manager Orffa Additives B.V.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==