Selenium+(Se)

=Other Names= Selenite, selenate, selenomethionine, selenocysteine

=Generalities= Selenium has only been considered an essential trace element for about 30 years. It is concentrated particularly in the kidneys, liver, spleen and testicles

=Role of Iron= With a chemical structure similar to sulfur, it has an activity that is particularly "antioxidant", inhibiting free radicals, or aging factors. -Increases the body's resistance through the stimulation of the immune system and improves the quality of cutaneous tissues -Plays a role in the prevention of cardio-vascular dis-eases -Seems to play a role in preventing cataracts -Good antidote against cadmium and mercury -Participates in the synthesis of glutathione and from this allows glutathione peroxidase activity to occur -Ensures the synthesis of triiodothyroxine, the most active form of thyroxine

=Pro-Compounds= Vitamin E

=Anti-Compounds= Antagonists of some heavy metals: Arsenic, Cadmium, and Mercury

=Daily Requirements=
 * AGE || µg./Day ||
 * 0-6 months || 15 ||
 * 7-12 months || 20 ||
 * 1-3 years || 20 ||
 * 4-8 years || 30 ||
 * 9-13 years || 40 ||
 * 14+years || 55 ||
 * During Pregnancy || 60 ||
 * During Breastfeeding || 70 ||

=Deficiency= In theory deficiency only occurs in the following cases: -Diets consisting mainly of food from regions with selenium-poor soil -People on long term parenterial diets that have not been enriched w/ selenium -People suffering from serious intestinal dis-eases such as crohn's dis-ease or ulcerative colitis.

It has been suspected that a sub-clinical deficiency may lead to various dis-eases: -cardiovascular or inflammation problems -Asthma -Weakened Immunity -Cancer -Cataracts, etc.

=Excess= Selenosis only manifests after long-term intake of 100mg./day. Symptoms include: -Hair and nails that break and fall off -Skin becomes sensitive to inflammation -The person's breath smells of garlic -Feeling of tiredness, irritability and nausea

=Sources=
 * FOOD || SERVING || SELENIUM ||
 * Brazil Nuts || 14g. (3-4 nuts) || 272µg. ||
 * Tuna, canned || 90g. || 63µg. ||
 * Sardines, canned || 85g. || 45µg. ||
 * Beef, cooked || 100g. || 36µg. ||
 * Cod, cooked || 85g. || 32µg. ||
 * Turkey || 100g. || 32µg. ||
 * Eggs || 1 medium || 14µg. ||
 * Whole Wheat Bread || 1 slice || 10µg. ||
 * Brown Rice, cooked || 125ml. || 10µg. ||

=Therapeutic Indications=

Low Values
-Atheriosclerosis -Cardio-vascular Problems -Decreased Immune Defenses -Decreased Blood Platelets -Accelerated Aging -Cancer Prevention

High Values
-Joint Pain -Hair Loss -Gastro-intestinal Problems

=Therapeutic Doses= 200µg./day of selenium for all cancers Decrease of: -63% for prostate cancer -58% for colon or rectal cancer -45% for lung cancer

Retroviruses (hepatitis, HIV): 200-1000 mcg/day

=
=================================================================

//Medical Nutrition// • – Initially thought to be toxic due to cattle illnesses in areas of high levels in the soil. • -Marco Polo reported deficiency1295 • -Prior to 1957 Se def sxs thought to be caused by VitE deficiency • -Easily absorbed, Organically connected (in methionine in plants) best. • -Cysteine binds it and incorporates it into glutathione peroxidase.

Function
• Glutathione peroxidase enzyme -detoxification • Converts HPETE into HETE – leukotriene 4 series, inflammation • Selenium reduces cancer formation – prostate, breast, esophageal • Conversion of iodine and tyrosine into thyroid hormone.

• RDA: 55-70mcg/d • Avg. Intake: 100mcg • ODI: 200-300mcg

• Sources: Brazil nuts, snapper, halibut, salmon

• Deficiency: Keshan disease –cardiomyopathy in China • Keshan-Beck disease: arthritis associated with low selenium in soil. • Duchennes Muscular dystrophy: has increased selenium excretion. • AIDS that is progressing has low selenium (and VitA)

Treatment
• Cancer prevention- detoxes body via glutathione –200- 800mcg (Breast, prostate, lung, -Esophageal, and intestinal cancers), Zn and Se improved outcomes (TLJune2003;p32) • Allergies -decreases allergy symptoms slowly increase dose. • Cystic fibrosis • CVD (low selenium areas –increased cancer and CVD –Mg too) • Inflammation, - Arthritis, RA, Eczema, psoriasis • Osgood Slaughters and growing pains 200-400mcg/ 400- 800iuVitE • Chemotherapy protection • Heavy metal toxicity • Cataracts and macular degeneration • SIDS • Myotonic and other forms of dystrophy • Prevention of viral infection (esp. retroviruses) • Hepatitis -Viral Infection –Retroviruses, HIV, Herpes, Coxsackie B - Antiviral

High selenium and diabetes? In a probability sample of the U.S. population, high serum selenium levels were positively associated with the prevalence of diabetes. Until findings from prospective studies and randomized controlled trials are available, selenium intake, including selenium supplementation, should not be recommended for primary or secondary diabetes prevention in populations with adequate selenium status such as the U.S. population. DIABETES CARE, VOLUME 30, NUMBER 4, APRIL04 http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/30/4/829

• Prostate Cancer
- Most common male cancer • -Ca deaths are decreasing 40,400 ‘95/ 30,200 in 2002 (NEJM2002p347) **Treatment:** • -Surgery, radiation, or seeds, hormones, chemo • -(China has 10% as common as N.Am. and N. Europe) • -Asians moved to N.Am. have same data within 1 generation (Urology Clin. N.Am 2002) • -5-6 servings fruits and veggies/day decrease incidence 75%, >3 servings 45%, cabbage and cooking tomatoes, garlic- 1clove, onions, scallions –3gm>50% reduction, (JNCI 2002;94) • (Also reduced BP, Chol, heart disease, stroke, DM, Constip, Obesity, and other cancers.) • Lycopene reduced aggressive growth –15 mg bid (Ca Biol Prev 2001) • Whole grains/ beans/ soy – much less cancer (Sem Urol Onc 99) • Flaxseed- 2 tbsp/d and olive oil (Denmark Wahnefried 2001) • O3FA, tree nuts • O6FA increased harm (UrolClinical N.Am 1999;26) • Broccoli family • Green tea with genistein (soy) (UrolClin.N.Am 2002;29) • Exercise 2mi/d 2/3 reduction NEJM 1998,338 • VitE 1/3 less prostate Ca (ProcNat Acad Sci 2002) • Se >50% less cancer (Garlic, onions, wh.grains, brazil nuts, nutrit yeast) • VitD is made in breast, prostate, colon, brain, skin with fats and sunlight – less Ca. • -Stimulate immune system- PSK (turkey tail mushroom Polysaccharide Krestin) • -Stop mets-MCP (modified citrus pectin) • -Avoid simple carbs, bad fats, and estrogenic chemicals. • -Sex 21x/month reduces incidence 60%