Most valuable mineral

For several years we’ve been telling you about the advantages of selenium – a naturally occurring mineral with powerful antioxidant properties. In both e-Alerts and Member Alerts we’ve told you about studies that have shown how a sufficient selenium intake may lower the risk of prostate, breast, colorectal and lung cancers.

Now a recent study from Indiana University Cancer Center and Indiana University School of Medicine has explored the theory that selenium activates an important tumor-suppressing gene called p53. Scientists estimate that the p53 gene is mutated in as much as 70% of all cancers.

In experiments performed on human lung cancer cells, the Indiana researchers used selenomethionine, the major component of selenium, to treat cells that contained p53 genes, and other cells that were deficient in p53. Results showed conclusively that selenomethionine not only activated the p53 protein, but also protected cells containing p53. Based on these findings, the researchers speculate that selenium therapy may act as a cancer preventive by enhancing the vitality of p53 genes. When the p53 genes function properly, cells are more likely to repair the DNA damage that may promote cancer.

In addition to its excellent cancer fighting abilities, many studies have shown that selenium’s antioxidant properties may also fight autoimmune disorders and help increase insulin efficiency. Other research has concluded that selenium may be able to stop viruses from mutating and becoming more potent. And in an e-Alert I sent you last year (“Popular Supplement Now Shown to Stop Deadly Epidemics” 6/22/01) I told you how HSI Panelist Martin Milner, N.D., has used selenium for many years in his cancer protocol to reduce the complications from chemotherapy and to increase general longevity.

Clearly, the importance of selenium in our diets can’t be overstated. Plant foods are the major dietary sources of selenium, but the amount of selenium in any plant depends on the selenium content of the soil it’s grown in. For instance, soils on the high plains of North America have high amounts of selenium, while the soil in much of China contains low amounts. So while garlic tends to contain good amounts of this mineral, the amounts vary depending on the soil the garlic is grown in.

The Brazil nut is the undisputed selenium champ, with one ounce containing as much as 840 micrograms (mcg) – well over the government recommended daily intake of 50 mcg. However, Dr. Martin L. Smith, the author of the Indiana study, noted that the average diet probably falls short of 50 mcg per day. Furthermore, Dr. Smith believes that in order to reap the cancer preventive qualities of selenium, intake needs to be around 200 mcg per day.

In other words, if you can’t or don’t want to add a quarter ounce of Brazil nuts to your daily diet, you might want to add selenium to your supplement regimen. But you should also be aware that too much selenium can be toxic. By too much, I mean an intake of more than 2,500 mcg per day. So if you currently take a multi-vitamin, check to see if you’re already getting some amount of selenium. You may be getting enough, but the chances that you’re getting near a dangerous dose are extremely slim.

To Your Good Health,

Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute