Selenium-rich lentils and arsenic exposure in Bangladesh
What it found
In 405 people in Bangladesh exposed to arsenic, eating selenium-rich lentils for 6 months led to more arsenic in their urine, a higher body mass index, and fewer cases of asthma and allergy than regular lentils.
The trial was randomised and double-blind.
What they found
Studies in people
Arsenic in urine
The selenium-rich lentil group excreted more arsenic in their urine than the control group.
Body mass index
The selenium-rich lentil group had a higher body mass index than the control group.
Asthma and allergy
The selenium-rich lentil group had a lower incidence of asthma and allergy compared with the control group.
Urinary arsenic metabolite
At 6 months, the selenium-rich lentil group excreted more of the urinary arsenic metabolite dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) than the control group.
What the authors conclude
“Consuming Se-rich lentils can increase As excretion and improve the health indicators in the presence of continued As exposure.”
Also in their conclusions
- They conclude that consuming selenium-rich lentils can increase arsenic excretion and improve health indicators even when arsenic exposure continues.
How it was done
Chronic arsenic exposure affects more than 100 million people worldwide, and low blood selenium may make arsenic-related health problems worse. The authors wanted to see if a naturally selenium-rich lentil diet could reduce arsenic toxicity.
They ran a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Bangladesh with 405 participants who were chronically exposed to arsenic. One group ate selenium-rich lentils (55 μg selenium/day) and the other ate lentils with a similar nutrient profile but low selenium (1.5 μg selenium/day) for 6 months. They took body measurements, blood, urine and stool samples at the start, 3 months and 6 months, hair samples at the start and 6 months, and collected illness data every two weeks.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial was in people exposed to arsenic in Bangladesh, so the results may not apply to other groups or settings.
- The trial lasted 6 months, so it cannot show what happens over a longer period.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- University of Calgary, Canada; University of Saskatchewan, Canada
The paper
- Title
- Food as medicine: Selenium enriched lentils offer relief against chronic arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Smits JE, Krohn RM, Akhtar E, et al (2019). Food as medicine: Selenium enriched lentils offer relief against chronic arsenic poisoning in Bangladesh. Environmental research. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2019.108561PubMed 31299617DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error