While long-term treatment of mice with 0.6 mg/kg Se (which was given as sodium selenite and corresponded to approximately four times the adequate intake) had no effects on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis, short-term treatment with 0.6 mg/kg Se actually enhanced inflammation scores, as well as TNFα and COX2 mRNA expression. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and colitis.