Selenium Reduces the risk of Cancer

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Selenium Reduces the risk of Cancer

 

 

> http://www.orthomed.org/news/abstr12.htm

>

> Selenium Reduces the risk of Cancer

> Clark ,LC

>

> ABSTRACT:The present study is the first randomized, double-blind

prevention

> trial to test the specific hypothesis that a supplement of the essential

> nutrient selenium can reduce the risk of cancer.

>

> METHODS: The trial randomized at total of 1,312 patient with histories of

> basal cell of squamous cell carcinomas of the skin to either a daily oral

> supplement of 200 µg selenium, or a placebo. They where followed with

> regular semi-annual dermatologic examinations and annual vital status for

a

> total of 8,269 person-years of observation (x=7.0 years).

>

> RESULTS: No cases of selenium toxicity occured. Selenium treatment did not

> affect the primary endpoints-- incidence of new basal or squamous cell

> carcinoma of the skin. Selenium-treatment was, however, associated with

> statistically significant reductions in several secundary endpoints: total

> and lungcancer mortality, total cancer incidence, colorectal cancer and

> prostate cancer incidence. Total cancer incidence was 42% lower in the

> selenium group (p<.001). The consistencies of these associations over

time,

> between study clinics and for the leading cancer sites strongly suggest

> that, for this cohort of patients, selenium-supplementation had

substantial

> health benefits.

>

> CONCLUSIONS: Selenium does not show protective effects against

non-melanoma

> skin cancers.

>

> However, results support the hypothesis that supplemental selenium can

> reduce the incidence of, and mortality from, carcinomas of several sites.

> This observation demands further evaluation in well controlled prevantion

> trials. ( JB: According to a lecture of Richard Passwater this study shows

> that taking selenium supplements reduces the risk of getting cancer with

42%

> and the risk of dying from cancer with 52%. After 5 years selenium

> supplementation there was a decreased risk getting lungcancer (39%) and a

> decreased risk getting prostatecancer (69%)

>

>