Dietary consumption of
selenium-rich agro-food is an effective way to avoid
selenium deficiency diseases, however, over consumption of
selenium-rich agro-food will result in potential risk of selenosis and problems with associated metals. In this study, we measured the concentrations of
selenium and its associated metals in 2756 common and 4894
selenium-rich agro-food samples in 10 regions of China. We found that
selenium-rich rice, flour, edible fungi and algae, meat, and
tea contain higher levels of associated metals than other
selenium-rich agro-food samples. Increasing the consumption of
selenium-rich agro-food could make the actual intakes (AIs) of
selenium for all population to meet respective recommended daily intakes (RDIs). Benefit-risk assessment results indicated that increasing the consumption of
selenium-rich agro-food make AIs of
selenium for all populations meet RDIs,
chromium intakes for people under 18 years old exceed provisional tolerated daily intake (PTDIs), while
arsenic and
cadmium intakes are close to PTDIs. The main dietary contributors of
selenium,
chromium,
arsenic and
cadmium were meat, edible fungi and algae, rice, and rice, respectively. The study supported the consumption of
selenium-rich agro-food for effective
selenium supplement, but also emphasized potential risk from associated metals in
selenium-rich agro-food, especially
chromium.