The mineral selenium is a very important antioxidant. Selenium, or more accurately the enzymes of which it is composed, protects against harmful oxidization in the body, primarily within the cells. Therefore many believe that if one gets enough selenium, will one develop a meaningful defence against cancer. There is good reason to believe this.
A Swedish study has meanwhile pointed towards that selenium has even more qualities. It can, in large doses, be used in the treatment of cancer. This requires so much selenium that it no longer works as an antioxidant, but as the opposite; it causes “harmful” oxidation. This occurs only in cancer cells, normal cells are free of this effect. This study can be seen as the dawn of a new epoch.
In the study an asbestos caused mesothelioma was studied, but it is reasonable to believe that that the method also works against other tumours. So far only one laboratory study has been undertaken, but a study using cancer patients is due to start soon. This will occur at the famous Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm.
The laboratory study was designed to treat cells from the most malign type of mesothelioma (sarcomatoid mesothelioma) with selenium in the form of inorganic selenite. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is most often untreatable and the tumour is immune from chemotherapy. It grows into the membranes surrounding the lungs, can be up to 1 cm thick, and can spread in the lungs and to other organs.
Little or no side effects
The chemical processes which enable selenium to damage cancer cells while leaving normal cells alone are complicated, but well researched. Roughly stated, cancer cells are poor at protecting themselves from the effects of oxidization. This is their Achilles heel. The idea behind the Swedish study was to create harmful oxidation inside the cells by using large amounts of selenium. The normal cells could handle this, but the cancer cells were destroyed.
This required a lot of selenium. The concentration in the blood had to be 7-8 times higher than normal. Even so, such high levels are surprisingly well tolerated. Research has shown that adults can tolerate up to 70 times more selenium (as yeast-selenium) than the average northern European receives daily through diet. Only a few had side effects.
One should naturally not experiment with this without aid. It is also not necessary to take such high amounts of selenium if the goal is preventing, not treating, cancer. The American Larry Clark found in 1996 that selenium supplements greatly reduced the cancer rates in 1,312 people who took part in a seven year trial. The rate of prostate cancer in this group fell by nearly 2/3. This was only an average. Those who received a lot of selenium in their diets already had a low risk and were not greatly affected by the supplements. But for those who normally had a low selenium intake, like the British, the rate of prostate cancer fell by 90%!
Does this sound too good to be true? The study was conducted under the scrutiny of a high scientific standard. Currently a similar study is being done with 35,000 American men. It is being financed by the American National Cancer Institute (NCI). The men are receiving 200 micrograms of organic selenium per day.
They should not expect side effects.
References:
- Holmgren A. Selenite in cancer therapy: A commentary on "selenite induces apoptosis in sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma cells through oixidative stress. Free Radical Biology & Medicine2006;41:862-5
- Nilsonne G et al. Selenite induces apoptosis in sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma cells through oxidative stress. Free Radical Biology & Medicine2006;41:87485
- Arner E et al. Physiological functions of thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase. Eur J Biochem 2000;267:6102-09.
- Reid ME et al. A report of high dose selenium supplementation: Response and toxicities. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2004; 18:69-74
- Clark LC et al. Effects of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention in patients with carcinoma of the skin. A randomized controlled trial. Nutritional Prevention of Cancer study group. JAMA 1996;276:1957-63
