Influence of selenium supplementation during chelation of lead in rats.

The influence of selenium supplementation during chelation therapy to reduce body burden and toxicity of lead was investigated in rats. Selenium had marginal effects on liver, kidney and blood lead decorporation by calcium disodium ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid (CaNa2EDTA) and activation of inhibited delta- aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) activity by calcium trisodium diethylenetriamine penta acetic acid (CaNa3DTPA). Selenium supplementation however, had no influence on lead induced inhibition of renal and hepatic transaminases and alkaline phosphatase. The results suggest that selenium supplementation slightly augments lead mobilization by chelating drugs.