In compliance with the EU regulations (Regulation (EC)
1170/2009), in the production of food supplements containing
selenium, L-selenomethionine and yeast enriched with selenium
can be used in dietary supplements. Selenium yeast is grown in
the presence of sodium selenate(IV), as the source of selenium,
containing in its dry form not more than 2.5 mg Se g1. The main
organic form of selenium in yeast is selenomethionine (60–80%
of total selenium content in a preparation). The content of other
organic selenium compounds, including selenocysteine should
not exceed 10% of total selenium content. Similarly, levels of inorganic
selenium should not exceed 1% of total selenium content, as
selenium acid (VI); sodium selenate (VI); sodium hydroselenite
(IV); sodium selenite (IV). According to the EU regulations, the recommended
daily dose of selenium taken within the daily diet
amounts to 55 lg, and producers of dietary supplements should
refer to this value as indicative of the percentage recommended
daily consumption covered by their product (Directive
2008/100/EC).