Poor nutrition leads to mutations that create more dangerous forms of the influenza virus and may contribute to newly virulent outbreaks of viral epidemics ranging from the common cold to AIDS and Ebola hemorrhagic fever.

Deficiencies of selenium allowed the human influenza virus to mutate into more virulent forms in mice, and a similar mutation is likely to occur in people.

Once the mutations have occurred, even mice with normal nutrition are more susceptible to the newly virulent strain.

Poor nutritional status may contribute to the emergence of new viral strains and might promote epidemics.

In the study, groups of mice with normal and selenium-deficient diets were exposed to Influenza A Bangkok, a mild strain of human influenza virus. Although investigators had expected the malnourished mice to be sicker than the well-fed ones, they confirmed that the virus also mutated to a greater degree in these mice.

Selenium, which is found in meat, is a component of an antioxidant enzyme that helps the body fight off infections. Most people in developed countries would not need to supplement their diet to maintain adequate levels of the mineral.

The study focused on the flu virus, which hospitalizes more than 100,000 people each year in the United States alone. The research also confirmed earlier studies into the causes of mutations of a virus, Coxsackie B3, linked to a heart disease known as Keshan disease.

The disease, once found in China among children and women of childbearing age with diets low in selenium, was largely eradicated by dietary supplements.

FASEB Journal June 2001

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Most people are stuck in a belief system that puts most of the responsibility for illness on these big bad infectious bacteria and viruses. Nothing could be further from the truth. Even Louis Pasteur, on his deathbed, realized that it was not the infectious agents, but the terrain in which they worked, which was responsible for their ability to produce illness. The most significant contribution to one's biological terrain would be the foods that you eat. This is one of the reasons why one should seriously consider implementing the optimal health food choice program. The program eliminates sugars and most grains that break down to sugar. It is these sugars that serve as fuel for the growth of pathogens that will cause illness. As the above study suggests, other factors are involved. Selenium is a major player for viral infections. As the first link below shows, selenium is a potent inhibitor of viral replication and is an important part of effective natural regimens for control of hepatitis C infections. However, one must be aware that medical science is at a very rudimentary stage of its understanding of nutrition and it interaction with human physiology. There are likely dozens, if not hundreds, of other micronutrients and factors that are responsible for decreasing the risk of infection when one eats natural unprocessed whole foods. And if you think a flu shot is a good option for preventing the flu, you have not read Chet Day's excellent summary on that issue below. Related Articles: Non-Drug Approaches to Hepatitis C Ignored by "Awareness" Campaign Why I Never Get Flu Shots