EFFECT OF SELENIUM CITRATE ON THE LIPID AND PHOSPHOLIPID COMPOSITION OF RABBIT BLOOD PLASMA

Selenium (Se) plays a catalytic, structural, and regulatory role in the body, which ensures the functioning of various biological systems and physiological and biochemical reactions. It mitigates oxidative stress and affects the efficiency of fatty acid biosynthesis in animal tissues. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of sodium selenite citrate on lipid and phospholipid composition in the blood plasma of rabbits. White laboratory rabbits were orally administered selenium citrate at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg body weight for 14 days. On the 15th day, animals were euthanized, and blood was collected to isolate plasma. The concentrations of total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids were determined using spectrophotometric methods. It was found that selenium citrate administration caused a statistically significant increase in total lipid and cholesterol levels, with a slight decrease in phospholipids. The results suggest that selenium citrate affects lipid metabolism, possibly by modulating enzymatic activity related to lipid biosynthesis and peroxidation processes. These findings contribute to the understanding of selenium’s role in regulating lipid homeostasis in mammals.