# A risk-benefit assessment of dietary selenium and its implications in preschool children’s growth performance in Taiwan

## TL;DR

This study assesses the balance of selenium benefits and mercury risks in the diets of preschool children in Taiwan, finding that fish and eggs support healthy growth.

## Contribution

The study provides a novel dietary risk-benefit assessment of selenium from common foods in relation to preschool children's growth.

## Key findings

- Eggs and fish are superior dietary sources of selenium with favorable nutritional profiles.
- Dietary selenium from fish and eggs is positively associated with weight and height development.
- Excessive fruit consumption may slightly reduce selenium intake and affect growth.

## Abstract

Optimizing nutrient intake is crucial for the health and development of preschool children. While previous studies assessed the risks and benefits of selenium (Se) from fish and seafood, few have examined its intake from common foods and its association with children’s growth.

In this study, we evaluated optimal foods for achieving a dietary Se surplus and the implications for the growth performance of preschool children.

Mercury (Hg) and Se concentrations were analyzed in 108 commercially available foods to conduct a dietary risk-benefit assessment of Se intake. Hg exposure was evaluated using hair samples from 349 preschool children enrolled between August 2017 and July 2022. Information on food consumption frequencies and nutrient compositions was obtained through dietary surveys.

Overall, 42.4% of children had hair Hg levels above the US Environmental Protection Agency’s reference dose of 1 µg/g, showing that Hg exposure among preschool children in Taiwan remains a significant issue. The risk-benefit assessment revealed that eggs and fish are superior sources of Se compared to other animal- and plant-based foods. Although marine fish contained higher Hg concentrations than eggs, their relatively high Se and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) contents supported a favorable nutritional profile when consumed in moderation. The minor negative health benefit value of Se (HBVSe) observed for fruit does not pose a health concern, as it is offset by other Se-rich foods in the diet. The cumulative HBVSe across food groups indicated that the children’s overall dietary Se intake was positive and nutritionally advantageous. Dietary Se, mainly from fish and eggs, was positively associated with weight and height development, whereas excessive fruit consumption may slightly reduce Se intake and adversely affect growth.

Moderate consumption of fish and eggs should be encouraged to support optimal growth and neurodevelopment. Overall, dietary patterns of Taiwanese preschool children provide beneficial levels of Se and ω-3 fatty acids while maintaining low Hg-related risks, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring of Hg levels in locally consumed foods to ensure dietary safety.

The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1265/ehpm.25-00128.