Cadmium (Cd) is an
element injurious for human health and is possibly toxic to organisms at minor concentrations. While some of other trace metallic elements have antagonistic features to it. One of them is the interaction between
selenium (Se) and Cd in plant different organs. Literature review disclosed that the intake of Se to some extent can reduce the accumulation of Cd in plants, while the research on of trace metallic elements (Cd) and Se-enriched food (rice) in the living body has rarely been reported. This study intended to explore whether there was a mitigating effect of Se-enriched rice on mice poisoned with Cd. A mouse model of low-dose and high-dose Cd
poisoning was established (supplemented with
cadmium chloride(CdCl2·2½H20)), followed by feeding two groups (1) Se-enriched rice and (2) setting an equal amount of inorganic Se group. After that, the impact of Se-enriched rice on the
antioxidant activity was evaluated. The Se-enriched diet enhanced the total
antioxidant capacity (T-AOC),
superoxide dismutase (SOD), and
enzyme activities of GSH
peroxidase (GSH-Px) in mice livers and kidney whereas significantly decreased the
malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. Moreover, the degree of physiological damage in mice with low
cadmium poisoning was significantly alleviated, and the expression of
antioxidant genes (Nrf-2, GPX1, TrxR2, TNF-2) was increased. In conclusion, the Se-enriched diet has a positive effect on the
biological effects in mice, and it can be used as a daily diet to resist damage to the body's low Cd state and support enzymatic
antioxidant systems by eliminating oxidative injury.