Women who are genetically predisposed to breast cancer may benefit from selenium, a trace element found in foods such as certain nuts, liver and kidneys, according to a study.
Previous animal studies have found that tiny amounts of selenium in the diet can suppress cancer in several organs, and data from human studies is just emerging that selenium may help to prevent breast cancer.
The study looked at a selenium-containing protein called glutathione peroxidase--an enzyme that is dependent on selenium and functions as an antioxidant.
Researchers compared the same genes from 517 cancer-free individuals with the genes contained in 79 breast cancer tissue samples.
It was found that the frequency of different versions of the gene was different in people without cancer and in tumors. This suggests that a person with a certain version of a gene may require more selenium in the diet to get cancer-suppressing benefits.
It may be possible to identify which version of a gene a person has and prescribe selenium supplements accordingly, researchers noted. However, more research is needed before a baseline amount of dietary selenium can be recommended.
Cancer Research June 15, 2003
According to one of the study's authors, Alan Diamond, Ph.D., professor and head of the Department of Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Chicago:
"In short, I believe the issue is that while there is an enormous amount of data showing that selenium can prevent many different types of cancer in animal model systems, information regarding humans is just emerging. The genetic data provides some early evidence that selenium-containing proteins might be involved in cancer etiology, leading us to suggest the possibility that selenium will be shown to be effective in reducing cancer incidence in people by acting through this unique class of proteins. The data also leads us to suggest that there may be certain people in the population who might benefit from selenium supplementation due to their genetic make-up. Again, it is early, but this is an exciting concept."
"In short, I believe the issue is that while there is an enormous amount of data showing that selenium can prevent many different types of cancer in animal model systems, information regarding humans is just emerging.
The genetic data provides some early evidence that selenium-containing proteins might be involved in cancer etiology, leading us to suggest the possibility that selenium will be shown to be effective in reducing cancer incidence in people by acting through this unique class of proteins.
The data also leads us to suggest that there may be certain people in the population who might benefit from selenium supplementation due to their genetic make-up. Again, it is early, but this is an exciting concept."
Indeed, it does appear to be an exciting concept and selenium supplements appear to be a good idea for many. Ideally, it should be obtained from your diet but unless you are eating organic vegetables it is unlikely that you are getting enough from commercially raised vegetables.
If you aren't consuming organic vegetables you might want to consume 100 mcg of selenium a day. It is important to remember that when you take too much selenium it can have a reverse effect and actually cause disease. So, don't do the typical American approach and conclude that if a little is good, even more is better. This can frequently backfire when it comes to supplements and foods.