Can Selenium-rich Lentils Reduce Arsenic Toxicity in Chronically-Exposed Individuals?
Posted:
2020-01-20
New research examined the use of selenium-rich lentils as a method to reduce arsenic toxicity and arsenic levels in biological samples, and to improve health indicators in those with chronic exposure to arsenic from water and food.
A double-blind, cluster-randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 405 healthy Bangladesh people (14 to 75 years of age) with chronic exposure to arsenic was conducted (1). The intervention group (204 participants) was provided with 65 gm of selenium-rich lentils containing 55 μg selenium/day and the control group (201 participants) were provided with the same amount of lentils but of with low selenium levels (1.5 ug selenium/day). At baseline, three and six months, total arsenic levels were measured from urine, stool and blood samples and anthropometric measurements were taken. Hair samples were also taken at baseline and at six months follow up. Participants who consumed the selenium-rich lentils were found to be excreting more arsenic in their urine (measured as arsenic metabolite (dimethylasrsinic acid)) at six months compared to the control group (P=0.008). Some health indicators, including the incidence of allergy (P=0.02) and asthma (P=0.05), were lower in the intervention group compared to the control group, and body mass index was higher (P<0.01) (the participants’ average BMI was 22). The authors suggested that selenium-rich lentils can increase arsenic excretion and improve the health indicators among people with high arsenic exposure. They recommended longer term larger scale studies be conducted to verify these results and to examine if higher concentrations of selenium would provide additional health benefits.
For additional information on the potential health effects of consuming arsenic, see the following PEN Content:
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Trending Topic - Do New Parents or Parents-to-be Need to be Concerned with Dietary Arsenic Exposure?
References
- Smits JE, Krohn RM, Akhtar E, Hore SK, Yunus M, Vandenberg A, et al. Food as medicine: selenium enriched lentils offer relief against chronic arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh. Environ Res. 2019 Sept;176:108561. Abstract available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31299617