The same meal prepared in various countries has surprisingly different selenium contents* COUNTRY SELENIUM PROVIDED (IN MCG) USA: selenium-deficient area 85 USA: selenium-moderate area 122 USA: seleniferous area 241 Canada: east 116 Canada: west, north 169 England 51 Italy 42 West Germany 129 Finland 32 New Zealand 32 China: low-selenium area 13 China: selenium-moderate area 63 China: high-selenium area 3,945 Japan 66 Venezuala 291 Ukraine 221 Chart compares selenium contents of a hypothetical Western-style menu* prepared in several countries *The Western-style menu provided 2,460 calories and 83 g protein: BREAKFAST: 240 g oatmeal with 14 g butter or margarine and 20 g honey; 16 g bacon; 1 orange; 230 ml whole milk; 230 ml black coffee. LUNCH: 35 g white roll with 14 g butter or margarine, salad (50 g lettuce, 100 g carrots, 150 g tomatoes, hard-boiled egg, 14 g dressing), apple, 80 g raisins, 230 ml whole milk. DINNER: 85 g baked chicken breast, 190 g fried rice with 23 g green onions, 145 g boiled carrots with 14 g butter or margarine, 80 g spinach with 50 g tofu, 50 g fig bars, 230 ml tea. Source: The Role of Selenium in Nutrition (Academic Press, 1986).