Selenium reduces dangerous LDL oxidation

Checking the List

What do you get in return for your selenium intake?

Immune system enhancement – check.
Maintenance of insulin efficiency – check.
Cancer defense – check.
Prevention of cognitive decline – check.
Enhancement of vitamin E effectiveness – check.

A recent study shows that we can add cardiovascular support to that impressive checklist.

LDL undone

Under normal conditions, LDL and HDL cholesterol move fats away from the liver. Your liver wouldn’t last very long without them. But potential danger looms with LDL oxidation, which is a primary factor in the development of atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries due to plaque formation on artery walls).

So – inhibit oxidation, and the concept of driving down your LDL numbers to absurdly low levels is not nearly as important as drug companies would like you to believe.

To investigate the effect of selenium on LDL oxidation, researchers at Italy’s Free Radical Research Group recruited 14 healthy subjects between the ages of 35 and 40.

STUDY PROFILE

• Blood samples were taken from each subject before and after a high fat meal
• Over the ten days following the meal, each subject took 110 micrograms of selenium daily
• At the end of the 10-day intervention, blood samples were again taken from each subject before and after the same high fat meal
• Results (as reported in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases): “Selenium supplementation fully prevented the meal-induced increase inLDL susceptibility to oxidation.”

Over protective

The development of atherosclerosis is a complicated process that involves more than just LDL oxidation. Fortunately, selenium is not the only supplement that helps reduce arterial plaque accumulation.

The e-Alert “Take it to Heart” (2/24/04), detailed a UCLA study in which researchers examined the effect that diet plays on atherosclerosis in subjects who are genetically inclined to develop the condition. Results showed that an intake of omega-6 fatty acids significantly enhanced the formation of arterial plaque while higher omega-3 intake impeded formation. The ideal diet supplies a 1:1 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6, but very few of us actually achieve that ratio because processed foods, loaded with simple carbohydrates, deliver omega-6 in abundance.

And in the e-Alert “Old Flame” (8/7/06), I told you how inflammation might also play a role in atherosclerosis. But does inflammation set the stage for atherosclerosis, or does atherosclerosis trigger inflammation? The answer to that question is probably, “Yes, and yes.” In either case, research has shown that magnesium, vitamin C, omega-3 fatty acids, and regular exercise all combine to help reduce inflammation.

Talk to your doctor before adding selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, or any other supplements to your daily regimen.

Source:
“Selenium Supplementation Prevents the Increase in Atherogenic Electronegative LDL (LDL Minus) in the Postprandial Phase” Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, Published online ahead of print, September 2007, elsevier.com