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Selenium Mineral Research Articles 31-40

Hoxsey Red Clover Burdock Plus Blood Cleansing Herbal Formula.

The following research abstracts are presented to reflect the findings of possible benefits from minerals as a dietary supplement and nutritional supplement.

The effect of dietary levels of selenium on radiation resistance and radiation-induced carcinogenesis

Nutrition Research (USA), 1996, 16/3 (505-516)

Combined (internal plus external) radiation exposure of the population and emergency workers, as a result of the Chernobyl accident, increased the oncogenic risk, and to reduce it is a problem of the utmost importance. A long-term experiment in 400 rats exposed to radiation following the Chernobyl pattern showed that a selenium-enriched diet started after exposure caused a longer average lifespan and a 1.5 - 3.5 fold decrease of leukaemias and other malignancies, e.g. breast, thyroid and lung cancers, etc., at late times. Selenium was first demonstrated to provide protection against late effects which is equivalent to a whole-body dose reduction by 1.4 Sv (140 rem). The dietary levels of selenium used were above those accepted as physiological but considerably below toxic ones (10, 30 and 100 microg Se/day per capita).

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Differential induction of growth arrest inducible genes by selenium compounds

Biochemical Pharmacology (USA), 1997, 53/7 (921-926)

The effects of two types of selenium compounds on the expression levels of growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible (gadd) genes and on selected cell death genes were examined in mouse mammary MOD cells to test the hypothesis that the diversity of selenium-induced cellular responses to these compounds could be distinguished by unique gene expression patterns. Whereas the expression patterns of known cell death-related genes (bcl-2 and bax) were not informative with respect to the cellular response patterns upon exposure to selenium compounds, time-dependent and selenium species-specific induction patterns were observed for gadd34, gadd45 and gadd153 genes. It was also observed that the MOD cells expressed a truncated p53 transcript but no detectable immunoreactive P53 protein, indicating a null p53 phenotype. The fact that selenium compounds induced growth arrest and death of these cells and that these compounds induced specific patterns of expression of gadd genes indicates that these genes may mediate some selenium-induced cellular responses. The findings further imply that selenium compounds may be effective chemopreventive agents for human breast carcinogenesis, in which p53 mutations are frequent.

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Selenium deficiency associated with cardiac dysfunction in three patients with chronic respiratory failure

Japanese Journal of Thoracic Diseases (Japan), 1996, 34/12 (1406-1410)

We encountered three patients with chronic respiratory failure who had heart failure of cardiac arrhythmias and low levels of serum selenium. All three had tracheostomies and had received long-term parenteral nutrition that had not included selenium. All three also had refractory cardiac dysfunction, which was manifested in edema, heart failure, and various tachycardias. We suspected that selenium deficiency had caused their cardiac dysfunction. Serum selenium concentrations were found to be much lower than normal in all three, so 100 microg/day of selenium was administered in addition to their tube feedings. Cardiac function improved after replacement of selenium. These cases show the need for preventing selenium deficiency in patients with chronic respiratory failure during long-term administration of parenteral nutrition.

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A possible beneficial effect of selenium administration in antiarrhythmic therapy.

J Am Coll Nutr (UNITED STATES) Oct 1994, 13 (5) p496-8

OBJECTIVE: The following review of the literature on the importance of Selenium (Se) in myocardial homeostasis and of the pharmacology of this trace metal, represents an attempt to search, without prejudice to other possible explanations, for a rationale of a beneficial effect of Se substitution as an adjuvant to antiarrhythmic therapy. background: For several years, in the early 1980s, I had to deal with the problem of a serious ventricular arrhythmia (non-sustained and sustained ventricular tachycardia) which was remarkably resistant to a battery of the most potent antiarrhythmic agents. Eventually, dramatic improvement, lasting for a period of 8 years, was achieved with Flecainide, which, however, left unsolved the episodic occurrence of disabling ventricular bigemini. Over the most recent period of 1 year and 8 months, there was a sudden and unexplained return to unbroken normal sinus rhythm. Among the multiplicity of possible reasons for this fortunate development, the concurrent introduction of Se substitution appeared as the most obvious, though very tentative explanation. Substitution of this trace metal preceded the extinction of ventricular bigemini by 1 week and actually represented the sole modification of otherwise reasonably standardized conditions of antiarrhythmic therapy, life style and diet. (25 Refs.)

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An expanded concept of "insurance" supplementation--broad-spectrum protection from cardiovascular disease.

Med Hypotheses (ENGLAND) Oct 1981, 7 (10) p1287-1302

The preventive merits of "nutritional insurance" supplementation can be considerably broadened if meaningful doses of nutrients such as mitochondrial "metavitamins" (coenzyme Q, lipoic acid, carnitine), lipotropes, and key essential fatty acids, are included in insurance supplements. From the standpoint of cardiovascular protection, these nutrients, as well as magnesium, selenium, and GTF-chromium, appear to have particular value. Sophisticated insurance supplementation would likely have a favorable impact on many parameters which govern cardiovascular risk--serum lipid profiles, blood pressure, platelet stability, glucose tolerance, bioenergetics, action potential regulation--and as a life-long preventive health strategy might confer substantial benefit. (111 Refs.)

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Antioxidant status of hypercholesterolemic patients treated with LDL apheresis

Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy (USA), 1996, 10/5 (567-571)

Oxidation of low density lipoprotein is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Epidemiological studies suggest a negative correlation between the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases and blood concentrations of lipophilic antioxidants such as vitamins A and E and beta-carotene. Trace elements, such enzymes as glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant and trace element status of patients with severe hypercholesterolemia who had been treated with dextran-sulphate low-density lipoprotein apheresis in comparison with two control populations, normocholesterolemic subjects and untreated hypercholesterolemic patients. Our results showed that, patients treated with LDL apheresis, compared with normocholesteromic subjects, were not deficient in vitamin E, beta-carotene, and copper, but had low plasma levels of selenium, zinc, and vitamin A. The low selenium and vitamin A levels were due to the LDL apheresis treatment, and the hypercholesterolemia might have provoked the low plasma levels of zinc.This study pointed out the potential benefits of supplemental selenium, zinc, and vitamin A in patients being treated with LDL apheresis.

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The role of free radicals in disease

Australian and New Zealand Journal of Ophthalmology (Australia), 1995, 23/1

Evidence is accumulating that most of the degenerative diseases that afflict humanity have their origin in deleterious free radical reactions. These diseases include atherosclerosis, cancer, inflammatory joint disease, asthma, diabetes, senile dementia and degenerative eye disease. The process of biological aging might also have a free radical basis. Most free radical damage to cells involves oxygen free radicals or, more generally, activated oxygen species (AOS) which include non-radical species such as singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide as well as free radicals. The AOS can damage genetic material, cause lipid peroxidation in cell membranes, and inactivate membrane-bound enzymes. Humans are well endowed with antioxidant defences against AOS; these antioxidants, or free radical scavengers, include ascorbic acid (vitamin C), alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), beta-carotene, coenzyme Q10, enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase, and trace elements including selenium and zinc. The eye is an organ with intense AOS activity, and it requires high levels of antioxidants to protect its unsaturated fatty acids. The human species is not genetically adapted to survive past middle age, and it appears that antioxidant supplementation of our diet is needed to ensure a more healthy elderly population.

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Status of antioxidants in patients with diabetes mellitus with and without late complications

AKTUEL. ERNAHR.MED. KLIN. PRAX. (Germany), 1994, 19/3 (155-159)

The role of antioxidative vitamins in the therapy of diabetes mellitus is of growing importance. The development of diabetic late complications (cataract, retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy and others) is associated with an increased presence of free radicals, and therefore, elevated oxidative stress of the human body. The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the vitamin and selenium status of diabetics. Thirty-eight patients of the age of 35-58 years had been diabetics for 8-27 years and their plasma concentration of haemoglobin was 6.7-7.5%. The diabetics of type I were treated with a functional insulin therapy with dietary restrictions, whereas the type II diabetics received oral antidiabetica (sulfonyl urea, biguanids) and had to comply with a fixed diet. Any supplementation of vitamins was omitted. The nutritional intake was monitored by a weighed record over 7 days. The plasma concentrations of vitamin A, beta-carotene, K and E were determined by reversed-phase-PLC. For the assessment of vitamin C concentrations, a photometric method was used, and selenium concentrations was determined by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. Mean values of plasma concentrations were: vitamin A 36-50 microg/dl, beta-carotene 35-42 microg/dl, vitamin K: 0.5-0.6 ng/ml, vitamin E: 1.1-1.6 mg/dl, selenium: 72-75 microg/l. The values of vitamin C concentration of the diabetics type I without late complications and of type II diabetics were at 0.8 mg/dl and, therefore, at the borderline. Diabetics of type I with late complications showed marginal values of 0.6 plus or minus 0.3 mg/dl. The critical value for the prevention of scorbut has been fixed at 0.4 mg/dl. The results of this confirm the importance and efficiency of vitamins, especially of ascorbic acid. Positive effects of this antioxidative vitamin in respect of the prevention of diabetic side effects and subsequent disease should therefore be expected.

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Selenium supplementation in the diets of patients suffering from ulcerative colitis

Stedman J.D.; Spyrou N.M.; Millar A.D.; Altaf W.J.; Akanle O.A.; Rampton D.S.
J.D. Stedman, Department of Physics, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2-5XH United Kingdom
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry (Hungary) , 1997, 217/2 (189-191)

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in which there is recurrent inflammation of the mucous membranes of the colon. Inflammation is accompanied by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including, amongst others, hydrogen peroxide. Selenium in the form of the selenoprotein glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) acts as a catalyst in the reaction which reduces hydrogen peroxide to watch. It may therefore beneficial to supplement the diets of patients who suffer from UC with selenium. In this preliminary study nine patients suffering from moderate UC were supplemented with selenium-beta tablets (300 microg Se per tablet) twice daily. Blood samples were taken at the start of the trial and at 1, 2 and 4 week intervals. Freeze-dried serum samples were analysed for their selenium content using the technique of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Samples were also analysed by particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) to monitor other trace elements levels. Selenium concentrations were found to increase during supplementation and iron concentrations to decrease. Stool frequency was also found to improve suggesting that ROS may be important in the pathogenesis of UC.

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Prevention of esophageal cancer: the nutrition intervention trials in Linxian, China. Linxian Nutrition Intervention Trials Study Group.

Cancer Res. 1994 Apr 1. 54(7 Suppl). P 2029s-2031s

In Linxian China, the esophageal/gastric cardia cancer mortality rates are among the highest in the world. There is suspicion that the population's chronic deficiencies of multiple micronutrients are etiologically involved. We conducted two randomized, placebo-controlled nutrition intervention trials to test the effects of vitamin and mineral supplements in lowering the rates of esophageal/gastric cancer. In the first trial, the dysplasia trial, 3318 adults with a cytological diagnosis of esophageal dysplasia received daily supplementation with 26 vitamins and minerals in doses typically 2-3 times the United States Recommended Daily Allowances, or placebos, for 6 years. The second trial, the general population trial, involved 29,584 adults and used a one-half replicate of a 2(4) factorial experimental design which tested the effects of four combinations of nutrients: A, retinol and zinc; B, riboflavin and niacin; C, vitamin C and molybdenum; and D, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium. Doses for these daily supplements ranged from 1 to 2 times the United States Recommended Daily Allowances, and the different vitamin/mineral combinations or placebos were taken for a period of 5.25 years. As part of the general population trial, and end-of-intervention endoscopy survey was carried out in a small (1.3%) sample of subjects to see if supplementation affected the prevalence of dysplasia and early cancer. Herein we review the methods of these trials and the results of the endoscopic survey. Fifteen esophageal and 16 gastric cancers were identified in endoscopic biopsies from the 391 subjects evaluated from two villages, and nearly all were asymptomatic. No significant reductions in the prevalence of esophageal or gastric dysplasia or cancer were seen with any of the four supplement groups. However, the prevalence of gastric cancer among participants receiving retinol and zinc was 62% lower than those not receiving those supplements (P = 0.09), while participants receiving beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium had a 42% reduction in esophageal cancer prevalence (0.34). We have reported separately that cancer mortality over the entire 5.25-year period was significantly reduced among those receiving beta-carotene, vitamin E, and selenium. The findings from the overall trial and the endoscopic sample offer a hopeful sign and should encourage additional studies with these agents in larger numbers of subjects.

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