Also, the amount of selenium in meat and dairy, depends upon how much of the mineral is in the plant food the animals are fed. The problem is that the soil in large portions of the United States contains little selenium. These areas are the eastern coastal region, including the state of Florida, the northern states between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mississippi River, and the western sections of Washington, Oregon and northern California. Also, of course, many people eat little if any fish. Yet, here again, supplements are not recommended even for those of us living in selenium-poor soil areas.
Selenium is a relatively new dietary consideration.
It was only in 1989 that the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council included it in its Recommended Dietary Allowance. But given the cancer connection and food content considerations, selenium will be an active nutritional topic for some time to come. .