Selenium
Selenium is a chemical element with the symbol Se and atomic number 34. It is a nonmetal with properties that are intermediate between the elements above and below in the periodic table, sulfur and tellurium, and also has similarities to arsenic. It rarely occurs in its elemental state or a…
Does selenium really fight cancer?
So, selenium doesnt just seem to help prevent cancers, it possesses the ability to fight them too. Selenium is a mineral we are only just learning about as it is a trace element. It was not even discovered as an essential nutrient until 1979 and only in 1990 was an RDA recommended.
How does selenium help fight cancer?
Why didn't the selenium supplement in SELECT prevent prostate cancer?
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Does selenium prevent cancer?
Selenium is thought to help protect cells from the damage that can lead to the development of cancer, boost the body’s immune response, and prevent the growth of abnormal cells. Studies have shown a reduced risk for a number of certain cancers — prostate , colorectal, and lung — among people with higher levels of selenium in their blood.
Is selenium good for skin cancer?
Top Selenium Benefits. 1. Prevents Signs of Aging: Selenium fights free radicals, minimizes skin damage and inflammation, and may even prevent skin cancer. 2. Reduces Inflammation: Inflammation is caused by ultraviolet rays, stress, poor diet, and lack of minerals. Selenium fights inflammatory cytokines that eventually cause skin damage. 3.
How does selenium help prevent cancer?
From the late 1960s, a few observational studies reported that people with high levels of selenium in their diet or in their body tissues had lower risk of cancer, and some laboratory studies showed that selenium could inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
Does selenium help cancer patients?
Selenium is a mineral necessary for human health. Selenium acts against cell damage in the body and might help to alleviate the side effects of therapies in cancer patients, such as nausea, diarrhoea or the lymph retention in limbs. Selenium supplements are frequently used by cancer patients.
Does selenium help chemotherapy?
Selenium, a trace element with anticancer properties, can reduce harmful toxicities of chemotherapy and radiotherapy without compromising efficacy.
Is selenium a potential treatment for cancer metastasis?
The possible use of Se to control melanoma metastasis was noted in the 1990s [50,51]. Both dietary selenite and SeMet supplementation significantly reduced metastatic incidence, the numbers of metastatic lung foci, and the tumor size in mice.
Is selenium linked to cancer?
Long-term use of selenium may increase the risk of certain types of cancer, and large doses can cause serious side effects. Clear evidence is lacking. Some studies suggest it may actually increase the risk of aggressive and secondary cancers.
Can selenium give you cancer?
Newer research shows that selenium is unlikely to lower cancer risk. Taking selenium supplements may increase the risk of certain types of cancer and type 2 diabetes.
Does selenium help with radiation?
Radiotherapy is one of the most important and common therapies for cancer patients. Selenium has been shown to be capable of reducing the side effects of radiotherapy because selenoproteins have anti-oxidative functions against reactive oxygen species that are induced by the radiation.
What foods are rich in selenium?
Food. Brazil nuts, seafoods, and organ meats are the richest food sources of selenium [1]. Other sources include muscle meats, cereals and other grains, and dairy products. The amount of selenium in drinking water is not nutritionally significant in most geographic regions [2,6].
What is selenium good for?
Selenium plays an important role in the health of your immune system. This antioxidant helps lower oxidative stress in your body, which reduces inflammation and enhances immunity. Studies have demonstrated that increased blood levels of selenium are associated with enhanced immune response.
Abstract
This review is the third update of the Cochrane review "Selenium for preventing cancer". Selenium is a naturally occurring element with both nutritional and toxicological properties. Higher selenium exposure and selenium supplements have been suggested to protect against several types of cancer.
Plain language summary
Review question We reviewed the evidence investigating the relation between selenium intake and cancer prevention. This review updates the most recent Cochrane review on this topic (Vinceti 2014), which was an update of Dennert 2011.
Background
This review is the third update of the Cochrane review titled "Selenium for preventing cancer" ( Dennert 2011; Vinceti 2014 ).
Objectives
To gather and present evidence needed to address two research questions:.
Results
Citation style: Please note that we reference the sources of relevant information in a certain way to enhance traceability of our results for interested readers. When the source of information is not the primary publication of an included study, we also reference the specific publication of interest.
Discussion
The aims of this review were to examine the efficacy of selenium supplementation in preventing cancer and, more generally, to analyse the association between selenium exposure and risk of cancer in men and women.
Authors' conclusions
A large body of evidence is now available from high‐quality randomised controlled trials on effects of selenium supplementation on cancer risk, with two new studies published since the last version of this review ( Vinceti 2014 ).
Who is the champion of Selenium?
Dr John Millward has been a champion of Selenium for years. For example, he believes that many women turn to HRT when selenium deficiency is actually the cause of their problems. And it is a particular concern of his that this trace element is fast disappearing from our ever depleted soils.
What are the three forms of Selenium?
Each form has its own unique set of abilities. The three forms of selenium most important in cancer prevention are sodium selenite, L-selenomethionine, and selenium-methyl L-selenocysteine.
How many men developed cancer in the following years?
In the following years 128 men developed cancer. When their blood was compared to those without cancer it was found to be deficient in selenium - in fact those with the lowest levels were three times more likely to develop cancer. This was especially true for cancers of the blood and colon.
Is selenium good for prostate cancer?
Josef’s Hospital in Wiesbaden presented their findings on selenium, concluding that selenium blood levels were significantly lower in men with benign prostate hypertrophy or prostate cancer.
Does selenium affect thyroid?
Selenium levels affect your hormones. Secondly, selenium levels affect your hormones - in particular, the thyroid hormone, from which it removes the iodine. This has a knock-on effect to all of your hormones. Dr John Millward has been a champion of Selenium for years.
Does selenium help with cancer?
Take your selenium with naturally sourced, complete or total vitamin E. Selenium has two other effects that may well play a role against cancer. Firstly, it protects the body against the increasing problem of toxic metals, e.g. mercury, cadmium and arsenic.
Is selenium yeast a live yeast?
Selenium yeast is the form of selenium used in the recent and most encouraging cancer trials, although usually this is not a live yeast. Someone who has a massive yeast overgrowth problem might need to stay away from yeast for a while, but this should not affect everyone.
Is selenium a natural element?
Selenium is a naturally occurring element with both nutritional and toxicological properties. Higher selenium exposure and selenium supplements have been suggested to protect against several types of cancer. Objectives: To gather and present evidence needed to address two research questions:1. What is the aetiological relationship between selenium ...
Does selenium help with prostate cancer?
A hypothesis generated by the Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Trial - that individuals with low blood selenium levels could reduce their risk of cancer (particularly prostate cancer) by increasing selenium intake - has not been confirmed.
What is the role of selenium in cancer?
The role of selenium in cancer and viral infection prevention. The role of selenium, the essential trace mineral in human health and disease , is currently a subject of intense interest. The recent 30 years have been an exciting time in selenium research.
Why is selenium important for health?
Selenium has important health effects related to the immune response and cancer prevention , which are possibly not exclusively linked to their enzymatic functions. Selenium appears to be a key nutrient in counteracting the development of virulence and inhibiting HIV progression to AIDS.
Is selenium good for you?
Selenium has important health effects related to the immune response and cancer prevention, which are possib …. The role of selenium, the essential trace mineral in human health and disease, is currently a subject of intense interest. The recent 30 years have been an exciting time in selenium research. Selenium has important health effects related ...