Selenium Articles

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This page contains medical journal articles and/or doctors' commentaries on the role of mineral deficiencies and other factors in illness, and the value of minerals, vitamins, and a proper diet for healthy living.

Selenium Articles...

Selenium Keeps Bacteria Away From Contact Lenses

An inexpensive coating made from the mineral selenium can keep contact lenses virtually bacteria-free without irritating the eyes or interfering with the lenses' corrective powers.

Why are bacteria-free lenses important?
The last main problem with contact lenses is the adhesion of bacteria to the lens surface. Bacteria can form stubborn coatings called "biofilms" on the lenses, and infection can damage the cornea and even lead to blindness.

How were the contact lenses tested?
The research involved rabbits and the researcher's own eyes. After two months of constant lens wear, the rabbits showed no sign of eye irritation. The selenium coating is only one molecule thick and therefore the researcher doesn't believe it will interfere with the wearer's vision. After completing the tests on rabbits, the researcher tested the selenium lens on himself. He inserted control contact lens in one eye and a selenium-coated lens in the other eye. He removed the lenses after a week, placed them in a lab dish and waited four days. Upon examination, the control lens was coated in bacteria and the selenium-coated lens was almost bacteria-free.

Could this selenium coating have other applications?
The researcher points out that the coating might be used for other medical materials to prevent infection. The researcher is currently in discussions with not only contact lens companies, but also manufacturers of other health products.

Annual Meeting American Chemical Society, Boston, MA; August 21, 2002

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:
(©Copyright 1997-2002 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved. Web site: http://www.mercola.com. Newsletters are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola. They are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and they are not intended as medical advice. They are intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.)

This is a wonderful application of nutritional medicine. For most people this would serve as a selenium supplement. Selenium is necessary for optimal antioxidant protection as it is a co-factor for glutathione, one of the most potent intracellular antioxidants. However, selenium by itself is a potent anti-viral and I use it to help treat hepatitis C. It makes perfect sense to use it in contact lenses.

Supplementing With Selenium May Help Thyroiditis

According to findings reported at the 83rd Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society in Denver, Colorado last week, supplementing with selenium may help to slow down the progression of autoimmune thyroid disease – and may be particularly effective during the onset of thyroiditis.

The findings were reported by Munich, Germany physician Barbara Gasnier, of the Medizinische Klinik University. The researchers believe that a deficiency in selenium may contribute in part to development of autoimmune thyroid problems because of selenium's impact on certain immune system enzymes. The study looked at 72 women at an average age of 42, all who had autoimmune thyroiditis. In all the women, thyroid peroxidase (TPO) antibodies and/or thyroglobulin (Tg) antibody levels were greater than 350 U/mL.

Half the patients received selenium supplementation for three months; the other half received a placebo. All patients were normalized on their thyroid hormone treatment. At the conclusion of the three-month period, autoantibody levels were measured. Interestingly, nine of the patients taking selenium supplementation had antibody levels that returned completely to normal. Two members of the placebo control group had antibodies return to normal. Among those in the selenium group, the mean TPO antibody levels decreased significantly in the selenium group. The higher the TPO at the onset of the test, the greater the reduction was seen in the TPO antibody levels at the end of the three months.

Selenium substitution with 200 micrograms of selenium may improve the inflammatory activity in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis, but whether this effect is specific for autoimmune thyroiditis or may also be effective in other organ-specific autoimmune diseases has to be investigated.

Dr. Gasnier has indicated that the selenium may be increasing peroxidase activity, lowering free radicals, and reducing inflammation.

Mary Shomon Thyroid Expert Guide at About.com June 25, 2001

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:
(©Copyright 1997-2002 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved. Web site: http://www.mercola.com. Newsletters are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola. They are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and they are not intended as medical advice. They are intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.)

It is likely that most cases of autoimmune thyroiditis involve a viral infection. Working with this knowledge, it would make sense to consider using selenium as a supplement in treating this problem as selenium has a well recognized benefit of inhibiting chronic viral replication.

Selenium Related to Prostate Cancer Risk

Low blood levels of the mineral selenium may mean a man has an increased risk of prostate cancer. A number of studies have indicated that selenium intake offers some protection from prostate cancer. And the new findings support the hypothesis that supplemental selenium may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Selenium is a trace mineral found in foods such as Brazil nuts and walnuts. It acts as an antioxidant, helping to neutralize byproducts of normal metabolism called free radicals, which can damage cells and contribute to cancer.

In the current study, the researchers evaluated selenium levels in blood samples from 52 men with prostate cancer. These men had provided blood samples before they were diagnosed with prostate cancer and again after their diagnosis. This group was compared with 96 otherwise healthy men who had periodically had their blood selenium levels measured.

The investigators found that prostate cancer risk was significantly higher in the group of men with the lowest selenium blood levels, compared with the groups with higher levels. Low selenium is associated with a 4- to 5-fold increased risk of prostate cancer. Low selenium levels remained a risk factor even after the researchers took into account other factors such as age, smoking and alcohol use.

The Journal of Urology December 2001;166:2034-2038

DR. MERCOLA'S COMMENT:
(©Copyright 1997-2002 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved. Web site: http://www.mercola.com. Newsletters are based upon the opinions of Dr. Mercola. They are not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and they are not intended as medical advice. They are intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Mercola and his community. Dr. Mercola encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.)

No surprise here as there are large numbers of studies clearly documenting the anticancer properties of selenium. It is one mineral that many should consider supplementing on a regular basis. It also has a synergistic effect with vitamin E.

How Selenium Supplementation Might Help AIDS in Africa

The essential trace mineral, selenium, is of fundamental importance to human health. As a constituent of selenoproteins, selenium has structural and enzymic roles, in the latter context being best-known as an antioxidant and catalyst for the production of active thyroid hormone.

Selenium is needed for the proper functioning of the immune system, and appears to be a key nutrient in counteracting the development of virulence and inhibiting HIV progression to AIDS. It is required for sperm motility and may reduce the risk of miscarriage. Deficiency has been linked to adverse mood states. Conditions involving oxidative stress and inflammation have shown benefits of a higher selenium status.

An elevated selenium intake may be associated with reduced cancer risk. Large clinical trials are now planned to confirm or refute this hypothesis. In the context of these health effects, low or diminishing selenium status in some parts of the world, notably in some European countries, is giving cause for concern.

Lancet July 15, 2000 356(9225):233-41
Journal Royal Society Medicine January 2002 (1):57

COMMENT By JOSEPH G. HATTERSLY
HIV-fighters worry about resistance to AIDS drugs. ¹ Meanwhile, ten studies showed declining levels of the micronutrient selenium (Se) in blood plasma or serum of persons with HIV or AIDS. ^{2, 3} In one such study of 125 HIV-1-seropositive drug-using men and women, the lower the serum selenium, the sooner they died. ⁴

Will Taylor, PhD (University of Georgia), explains. Given adequate oral Se, the HIV retrovirus produces selenoproteins. These act as brakes on HIV's reproduction: a private "birth-control pill." Unable to reproduce, the virus could become harmless. ^{5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14}

The HIV-1 rate, as high as 36 percent in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, is only 1.77 percent in Senegal. ¹⁵ Harold Foster, PhD (University of Victoria), proposes why Se deficiency causes AIDS ¹⁶ and explains. Senegal's environment is ideal for operation of the immune system. Its food chain provides a constant ample supply of calcium, magnesium, ¹⁷ and selenium -- which is highly protective against cancer ¹⁸ as well as HIV-1. Senegal "is a desiccated Cretaceous and early Eocene sea. Calcium phosphate derived from selenium-rich phosphorites is mined for fertilizer." ¹⁹ Senegal's education campaign ^{20, 21} provides the illusion of protection, but similar programs fail where soils are Se-deficient, like Botswana ^{22, 23} and Uganda. ²⁴

Coconut oil, ^{25, 26} vitamins B12 and E-complex, ²⁷ N-acetyl-cysteine, ²⁸ and vitamin B6 ^{29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34} also strengthen defense against AIDS. These nutrients and 200-250 micrograms daily of chelated selenium might work much better than expensive (but profitable) one-dimensional AIDS drugs with their resistance and side effects. These nutrients might also improve the immune systems of typical Africans, wracked by multiple other infections. ^{35, 36} And there can be no doubt that the same approach would probably benefit patients with HIV or AIDS in America and anywhere else.

1. Haney DQ. Drug-resistant HIV infects half of Americans treated. Seattle Post 2001; Dec 19:A4.
2. Dworkin BM. Selenium deficiency in HIV infection and the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Chem Biol Interact 1994;91;2-3:181-186.
3. Gladyshev VN, Stadtman TC, Hatfield DL, Jeang KT. Levels of major selenoproteins in T cells decrease during HIV infection and low molecular mass selenium compounds increase. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1999;96;3:835-839.
4. Campa A, Shor-Posner G, Indacochea F, Zhang G, Lai H, Asthane D, Scott GB, Baum MK. Mortality risk in selenium-deficient HIV-positive children. Jour Acquired Immune Defic Syndr Hum Retrovirol 1999; 20;
5. Taylor EW, Bhat A, et al. HIV-1 encodes a sequence overlapping env gp41 with highly significant similarity to selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidases. J. AIDS Hum Retrovirol. In press.
6. Dworkin BM. Selenium deficiency in HIV infection and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
7. Gaby AM, Wright JM. Interview on Bland JS, Funct Med Update 1997; Apr.
8.] Altavena C, Dousset B et al. Relationship of trace element, immunological markers, and HIV-1 infection progression. Biol Trace Elem Res 1995; 47:133-138.
9. Passwater RA. Vitamin connection. More exciting research from Dr. Will Taylor. Selenium against viruses. Whole Foods 1996; 19; 11:133-138.
10. First International Symposium on Human Viral Diseases: Selenium, Antioxidants and Other Emerging Strategies of Therapy and Prevention. April 19-21, 1996. Nonnweiler, Germany. Int Antiviral News 1996;
11. Taylor W. Selenium and viral diseases: Facts and hypotheses. Computational Center for Molecular Structure and Design. Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Georgia.
12. Look MP, Rockstroh JK et al. Serum selenium and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase in human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection. Trace Elem Res 1996, in press.
13. Taylor EW, Nadimpalli RG, Ramanathan CS. Genomic structures of viral agents in relation to the biosynthesis of selenoproteins. Biol Trace Elem Res. Symposium Volume.Schrauzer G, Montagnier L, eds.
14. Wright JV, Gaby AM. Interview on Bland JS, Funct Med Update 1997; Apr.
15. Harvard AIDS Institute web page http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hai/interactive/map-africa.html.
16. Foster HD. AIDS and the "selenium-CD4 T cell tailspin." The geography of a pandemic. Townsend Ltr Doctors/Patients2000; Dec: 94-99.
17. Wright JV. Dr. Jonathan V. Wright's Nutrition & Healing 2001 (June); 8;6: 5-8.
18. Howe MG. International variations in cancer incidence and mortality in Global Geocancerology: A World Geography of Human Cancers (Ed. Howe G.M.). NY: Churchill Livingston, 1986: 3-42.
19. Foster HD. AIDS and the "selenium-CD4 T celltailspin." Op. cit.
20. Simmonds A. Senegal puts the lid on Aids and now has the best results in Africa. Johannesburg Independent 2001; Mar 18 (From LosAngeles Times).
21. Alexandra Zavis, Seattle Post-Intelligencer;2001; Aug 12.
22. Personal communications, April 20, 2001.
23. AIDS in Botswana: A new approach. Economist 2001; Aug 11: 36-37.
24. AIDS: Unhappy anniversary. Economist 2001; Dec. 1: 76.
25. Wang LL, Johnson EA. Inhibition of Listeria monocytogenes by fatty acids and monoglycerides. Applied and Environmental Microbiol 1992; 58; 2: 624-629.
26. Health Vectors, PPNFHealth Journal 1997; 21;2:6-7.
27. Levander OA, Ager AL, Beck MA. Vitamin E and selenium: Contrasting and interacting nutritional determinants of host resistance to parasitic and viral infections. Proc Nutr Soc 1995; 54; 2: 475-487.
28. Notter HS, Moelans II, de-Vos NM, de Graaf L, VisserMR, Verhoef J. N-acetyl-cysteine-induced upregulation of HIV-1 gene expression in monocyte-derived macrophages correlates with increased NF-KB DNA binding activity. J Leukocyte Biol 1997; 61;1:33-39.
29. Willis-Carr JI, St. Pierre RL. Effects of vitamin B6 deficiency on thymic epithelial cells and T lymphocyte differentiation. J Immunol 1978;120:1153-1159.
30. Baum MK, Mantero-Atienza E, Shor-Posner G et al. Association of vitamin B6 status with parameters of immune function in early HIV-1 infection. J Acquired Immune Defic Syndr 1991;4:1122-1132.
31. Willis-Carr JI, St. Pierre RL. Effects of vitamin B6 deficdiency on thymic epithelial cells and T lymphocyte differentiation. Opl. cit.
32. Lake-Bakaar G, Quadros E, Beidas S, et al. AIDS gastropathy: Gastric secretory failure. In: Proceedings of the Ninth International Conference on AIDS. Stockholm, Sweden, 1988:7113.
33. Middleton HM. Intestinal hydrolysis in pyridoxal 5'-phosphate in vitro and in vivo in the rat. Effect of protein binding and pH. Gastroenterology 1986;91:343-350.
34. Mitchell D, Wagner C, Stone WJ, Wilkinson GR, Schenker S. Abnormal regulation of plasma pyridoxal 5' phosphate in patients with liver disease. Gastroenterology 1976;71:1043-1049.
35. Duesberg, Peter H, PhD. Inventing the AIDS Virus. NY: Regnery, 1996.
36. Lancet 2001; Dec 8; 358: 1989-1992.

Low Selenium Intake May Raise Risk Of Liver Cancer

Individuals infected with the hepatitis B virus are at increased risk for liver cancer, and a similar risk has been suggested for hepatitis C. Researchers in Taiwan suggest that low blood levels of the element selenium may be linked to the increased risk of liver cancer in patients infected with these viruses.

According to previous studies, selenium boosts immune system function and helps inhibit cancerous cell changes in liver cells exposed to known carcinogens. The researchers report that selenium levels were "significantly lower" in those who developed liver cancer compared with those who did not develop cancer.

According to the investigators, a previous study has suggested that vitamin E and selenium supplements taken in combination resulted in a 13% reduction in cancer mortality in a population with high rates of esophageal and stomach cancer.

American Journal of Epidemiology August 15,1999;150:367-374.

COMMENT: Selenium supplementation would be wise for most to consider. If one has mercury toxicity or hepatitis B or C, it is a no-brainer. One should be on this trace mineral. Please remember though that selenium has a low toxicity threshold, so more is not better and can actually cause problems.

Comment - One of the best and safest forms of selenium supplementation to date is by using water-soluble selenium. It is liquid and angstrom in size so that it can get in and out of the cells of the human body making it very difficult to become toxic with this powerful mineral element. The new mineral blend [Liquid Ionic Minerals] has the correct amount of selenium in solution and it is balanced with the other critical mineral elements for best effect and safety. I highly recommend it. As always be sure to consult your health care provider and follow the recommendations for use established by the company.

Essense-of-Life, LLC is NOT ASSOCIATED in any way with the Eniva Corporation, Rainbow Minerals, Wolf Clinic or Nutrition 2000. (...more)

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SELENIUM ARTICLES