Frequent consumption of selenium-enriched chicken meat by adults causes weight loss and maintains their antioxidant status.

Abstract

Aim: To assess the effects of a moderately high protein intake on the body composition, biochemical and antioxidant status parameters in young adults depending on either selenium-enriched or non-enriched chicken consumption. Subjects and methods: The volunteers (n=24) that completed the 10-week nutritional intervention were distributed in 2 parallel groups and randomly assigned to follow an isocaloric diet with moderately high content in protein (30% energy), either with the consumption of four 200g portions/week of Se-enriched or non-enriched chicken breasts. Blood samples were taken at the beginning and at the end of the study and body composition was monitored during the trial. Results: There was a significant reduction in weight, accompanying a decrease on fat mass in both groups, while fat-free mass remained unchanged during the 10 weeks of intervention, without differences between both dietary groups. Selenium blood levels and plasma glutathione peroxidase activity, as well as lipid, glucose and selected inflammation biomarkers remained stable during the intervention period in both dietary groups. Conclusion: Frequent chicken consumption, within a controlled diet with a moderately high content in protein, produced a slight but statistically significant weight reduction mainly due to the loss of fat mass. An extra Se supplementation (22 μg/day) in the Se-enriched chicken breast did not affect tachyphylactic antioxidant status of the participants neither inflammatory related markers after weight loss.