As a nutritional trace
element, selenium forms an essential part of our diet. In collaboration with
the International Agency for Research on Cancer, researchers from Charité --
Universitätsmedizin Berlin have been able to show that high blood selenium levels
are associated with a decreased risk of developing liver cancer. In addition to
other risk factors, the study also examines in how far selenium levels may
influence the development of other types of cancer. Results from this study
have been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Selenium is found
in foods like garlic, fish, shellfish, meat, milk and eggs. It is a trace
element that occurs naturally in soil and plants, and enters the bodies of
humans and animals via the food they ingest.
Selenium deficiency is
identified as a risk factor for a range of diseases. Selenium deficiency is a
major risk factor for liver cancer. Selenium anticarcinogenesis can be
conceptualized as a multi-tiered process whereby chemical/biochemical actions
of Se metabolites are translated into changes in cancer risk by intermediate
molecular and cellular mechanisms.
This study does not
show that selenium supplementation has a direct protective effect against liver
cancer. However, it does confirm the importance of a balanced diet, of which
selenium forms an integral part. Previous studies had suggested a similar
relationship between a person's selenium status and their risk of developing
colon cancer, as well as their risk of developing autoimmune thyroid disease.
No comments:
Post a Comment