• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.100-106
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of copper and selenium supplementation on lipid contents. Lipid levels in serum and liver were analyzed and compared in rats fed diet with 100, 200 and 400% of copper requirement and 100% and 1000% of selenium requirement for 6 weeks. Feed intake, body weight gain, and feed/weight were not significantly different among the groups. Serum cholesterol was the lowest in the copper-adequate group and sect LDL-cholesterol was significantly lower in the selenium-adequate group compared to the selenium-supplement group. Liver cholesterol was significantly elevated by the supplementation of copper and selenium. Summarizing these results, with the supplementation of copper and selenium, cholesterol levels in serum and liver increased in rats. Therefore, it could be suggested that adequate intake of minerals and well-balanced diet are more desirable than nutrient supplementation.