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BETHESDA, MARYLAND. Several large studies have found a clear
association between low selenium levels and an increased risk of
cancer. A major clinical trial involving supplementation with 200
micrograms/day of selenium (500 mg of high selenium brewer's yeast) was
carried out in the United States in 1995. This trial concluded that
selenium supplementation reduced overall cancer incidence by 40 per
cent and cancer mortality by 50 per cent.
Researchers from the National Cancer Institute and the Chinese Academy
of Medical Sciences in Beijing now report that selenium deficient
individuals are more likely to develop cancer of the esophagus and
stomach than are individuals with adequate levels. Their study
involved 590 patients with esophageal cancer, 402 with gastric cardia
cancers (cancers located close to the junction between the esophagus
and the stomach), and 87 with gastric non-cardia cancers as well as
1062 cancer-free control subjects.
All participants had provided blood samples in 1985 prior to
participating in the large Linxian study that investigated the benefits
of various supplements in stomach cancer prevention. The researchers
found that participants with blood serum levels of selenium at or above
90 micrograms/liter had a 44 per cent lower risk of developing
esophageal cancer and a 53 per cent reduction in gastric cardia cancer
risk when compared to participants with levels at or below 50
micrograms/liter. There was no correlation between selenium levels and
the incidence of gastric non-cardia cancers. The researchers conclude
that even individuals in the highest quartile (upper quarter) of
selenium levels could benefit from selenium supplementation and that a
supplement of 50 micrograms/day is not enough to correct a long-term
deficiency.
Mark, Steven D., et al. Prospective study of serum selenium levels and
incident esophageal and gastric cancers. Journal of the National
Cancer Institute, Vol. 92, November 1, 2000, pp. 1753-63 [62
references]
association between low selenium levels and an increased risk of
cancer. A major clinical trial involving supplementation with 200
micrograms/day of selenium (500 mg of high selenium brewer's yeast) was
carried out in the United States in 1995. This trial concluded that
selenium supplementation reduced overall cancer incidence by 40 per
cent and cancer mortality by 50 per cent.
Researchers from the National Cancer Institute and the Chinese Academy
of Medical Sciences in Beijing now report that selenium deficient
individuals are more likely to develop cancer of the esophagus and
stomach than are individuals with adequate levels. Their study
involved 590 patients with esophageal cancer, 402 with gastric cardia
cancers (cancers located close to the junction between the esophagus
and the stomach), and 87 with gastric non-cardia cancers as well as
1062 cancer-free control subjects.
All participants had provided blood samples in 1985 prior to
participating in the large Linxian study that investigated the benefits
of various supplements in stomach cancer prevention. The researchers
found that participants with blood serum levels of selenium at or above
90 micrograms/liter had a 44 per cent lower risk of developing
esophageal cancer and a 53 per cent reduction in gastric cardia cancer
risk when compared to participants with levels at or below 50
micrograms/liter. There was no correlation between selenium levels and
the incidence of gastric non-cardia cancers. The researchers conclude
that even individuals in the highest quartile (upper quarter) of
selenium levels could benefit from selenium supplementation and that a
supplement of 50 micrograms/day is not enough to correct a long-term
deficiency.
Mark, Steven D., et al. Prospective study of serum selenium levels and
incident esophageal and gastric cancers. Journal of the National
Cancer Institute, Vol. 92, November 1, 2000, pp. 1753-63 [62
references]
