• Lentils
• University of Saskatchewan

Objective

To perform a double-blind, randomized controlled trial to determine whether incorporation of high-selenium lentils into the daily diet, providing at least the recommended daily allowance (US-FDA RDA) of selenium, can decrease the body burden of arsenic, evident by higher arsenic excretion in urine and/or feces and decreased deposition in hair, when compared to the treatment group on low-selenium lentil consumption.

Outcome

No adverse health effects of high- or low-selenium lentil consumption were observed in the participants. The study showed significantly higher urinary excretion of arsenic in the high-selenium lentil group. Selenium levels in blood increased significantly in participants who consumed the high-selenium lentils. Women in the high-selenium group exhibited lower total cholesterol levels at 3 months of the trial, and men in that group had a significantly higher HDL cholesterol proportion, which is considered the “good” cholesterol.

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