Abstract

In this pilot study the effect of selenium supplementation with different concentrations of selenium was studied. The period of this study enclosed the first three months of a new season. In 18 cyclists the selenium concentration in blood and hair was measured. Moreover the numbers of T4-and T8-lymphocytes were measured and their ratio calculated. The prevalues of the selenium concentrations were in the lower part of the normal range. The selenium concentration of the group with supplementation of 0.2 mg/day increased in blood with 0.10 ppm and in hair with 0.13 ppm and in the group with 0.5 mg/day with 0.17 ppm and 0.20 ppm respectively. The selenium concentrations of the placebo group did not change. The number of T8 cells increased from 0.47 to 0.66 in the group supplemented with 0.5 mg selenium/day; the T-cell ratio decreased from 1.78 to 1.36. It can be concluded that supplementation of 0.2-0.5 mg selenium/day as menthionin increased the selenium concentrations in blood and in hair from the lowest part of the normal range to the highest part whereas no influence on the numbers of T4 and T8 cells could be found. Verf.-Referat