From the journal Alternatives,12:14; 105-111, Aug 2008
Author Unknown (not by Dr. Wilson)
When it comes to human papilloma virus or HPV, or any
virus problem for that matter, it is crucial that you are getting adequate
amounts of selenium in your diet or using a supplement.
Glutathione requires selenium for its
production. It is the granddaddy
of all antioxidants. Every single
condition we associate with aging has been linked to
lowered glutathione levels.
Studies
have shown that individuals who maintain the highest levels of glutathione
remain the healthiest and live the longest. The very
important relationship between selenium and glutathione has just recently come to light during the last few years.
SELENOPROTEINS
Selenium is a trace mineral that the
body incorporates into proteins to make over 25 different selenoproteins
(like the enzyme glutathione peroxidase). These are some of the strongest
antioxidants that work to prevent cellular damage from free radicals. They also help regulate thyroid function and assist the
immune system.
A few years ago, researchers
working with the flu virus discovered that animals deficient in selenium were
more susceptible to infectious diseases. This wasn't earth shattering news-or unexpected. It's well known that
being malnourished or nutritionally deficient will result in an impaired immune
system.
Their shocking discovery, however, was
that where animals with a selenium deficiency were
contaminated with the flu virus, the virus mutated into a far more
virulent form when it was passed on to the next animal.
The researchers compared the initial
virus to the mutated form, saying that the first would typically cause only
mild pneumonia, while the latter would result in life threatening severe
pneumonia.
In simple terms, they discovered that
selenium deficiencies cause viral mutations that could turn a harmless flu bug
into a worldwide life-threatening flu pandemic. Why
the importance oj selenium
wasn't broadcast to the masses I'll never understand. And
the ramifications of having adequate selenium reserves in the body reaches far
beyond the flu virus.
It
appears that selenium also has a very strong link to another viral disease:
HIV/AIDS. The work is still
ongoing into the exact details of how HIV utilizes selenium. Recent
studies have shown that providing adequate amounts of selenium to the virus
slows its replication. HIV requires selenium, and will invade
other cells in an attempt to get more of the mineral. The virus' need
for selenium helps explain several aspects of AIDS.
Research has shown that one of the
hallmarks oj AIDS
progression is a decline in the patient's selenium blood plasma levels. This is accompanied by a decline in the selenium-containing
antioxidant glutathione peroxide as well. Not only this, but infection rates
are highest in geographic areas of the world where soil selenium levels are the
lowest and infection rates are lowest where selenium levels are the highest.
AIDS
HIGHEST WHERE SELENIUM IS LOWEST
The
AIDS infection rate is highest in those African countries with low levels of
selenium in their soil: Zimbabwe, 25.84 percent; Botswana, 25.10 percent;
Zambia, 19.07 percent; South Africa, 12.91 percent; and Cote D'Ivoire, 10.06
percent.
In
contrast, Senegal in West Africa has the lowest levels of AIDS at 1.77
percent-and the highest levels of selenium-rich soil.
(Senegal also has one of the lowest
rates of cancer in Africa, another benefit of their selenium-rich soil.)
SEX
DEPLETES SELENIUM, PARTICULARLY IN MEN
It's probably no coincidence,
either, that males transmit the AIDS virus more easily than do females.
Selenium is concentrated in semen, and sperm cells also
contain high levels of the trace mineral.
Not only can there be a significant
loss of selenium during regular sexual intercourse (but not with down
sex). The invasion of these cells
by HIV in its search for the mineral quickly transforms them into a carrier of
the virus.
You might recall that in the early days
of the AIDS epidemic there was widespread abuse of oxidant drugs in the form of
nitrite inhalants. These produced an abundance of free
radicals, which further depleted glutathione and selenium levels and sped up
the disease process.
An individual's selenium
reserve, at the time of infection and subsequently, also
helps explain the variable latency period between the time of HIV infection and
the appearance of AIDS. For some it is rather quick, while for others it can be
years-and some HIV-positive patients have never developed AIDS.
Much of what I've discussed so
far has had to do with HIV and AIDS. Keep in mind,
however, that it also applies to any virus or viral infection.
This could be something as
simple as the cold or as serious as the next pandemic influenza virus, bird
flu, West Nile virus, Ebola, hepatitis, hantavirus,
Marburg virus, smallpox, or some viral agent spread through bioterrorism.
Other than isolation and the
use of questionable and unproven vaccines, there's not much in the form of
treatment for any of these problems.
Viral threats are certainly not
the only reason you should make the effort to increase your selenium level.
Several studies have found that
selenium blood levels fall as we age and those with the lowest levels
experience shorter life spans. One study showed a drop
of 7 percent at age 60 and 24 percent by age 75.
In one study involving 1,389 patients
ages 60 to 71, it was discovered that, when compared
to those with the higher selenium levels, those with the lower levels have a
highest likelihood of experiencing cognitive and neurological problems.
(Epidemiology 07;18:52-58) (Sci
Total Environ 95;170:133-139) (Med Hypotheses 97;48:355-360)
Selenium (helps to) prevent
cancer. This has been proven time and time again.
One study involved 1,312 patients with no melanoma skin cancer. Half received a placebo and the other
half received 200 mcg of selenium for an average of 4.5 years.
Those who took the selenium had an
overall decrease in all cancers of 35 percent compared to those on the
placebo. Prostate cancer decreased
by 63 percent, lung cancer by 46 percent, and colorectal cancer by 58 percent. The effect was so dramatic that the blinded part of the
study was ended early so those on the placebo could be told the benefits of
taking selenium (JAMA
96;276:1957-1963).
OTHER
CANCERS AS WELL
Other research has now found
that increasing levels of selenium could cut the incidence of bladder cancer by
as much as 70 percent. It also
appears that breast cancer is far more prevalent in individuals with low
selenium levels - and supplementation could lower those rates as well (J Surg Oncol 80;15:67-70) (Mol Carcinog
99; 26:213-225).
A study in Arizona of 1,763 individuals
found that those with lower levels of selenium were more likely to have polyps
in their intestinal tract than those with higher levels of the mineral (33
percent compared to only
9 percent). Polyps are considered pre-cancerous (J Natl Cancer Inst 04;96:1669-1675).
HEART
DISEASE
From common sense and all research
indications, it seems apparent that selenium and the enzymes produced from it,
like glutathione peroxidase
and thioredoxin
reductase, help prevent the oxidation of LDL
cholesterol. It's the oxidation of LDL cholesterol
that starts the inflammatory process leading to the development of plaques in
arteries (Circulation 98;97:1930-1934).
There are
other antioxidants that are needed to prevent heart disease,
but keep in mind that selenium is one of the most powerful ones.
ARTHRITIS
This is another area where there hasn't
been enough research concerning selenium. We do know
that with inflammatory arthritic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis there are
consistently lower levels of selenium in the blood, and oftentimes a low intake
of the mineral.
Selenium is a part of not only
antioxidant proteins, but anti-inflammatory ones as well. Along with omega- 3 fatty acids,
selenium can prove to be a godsend to many with rheumatoid arthritis (Bioi Trace Element Res 96;53:51-56)
(Ann Rheum Dis 94;53:51-53) (Semin
Arthritis Rheum 97;27:180-185).
MANIPULATION
OF SELENIUM RDAs
A common
tactic with excellent supplements to discourage their use is to exaggerate any
possible dangerous side effects and then throw in a study or two showing that
it doesn't work. These are exactly the things that
have been happening to selenium.
The US Food and Nutrition Board
actually lowered the RDA for selenium in the year 2000 from 70 mcg for men and
55 mcg/day for women to 55 mcg/day for both. They
obviously ignored the 1996 cancer study report I mentioned above showing the
benefits of 200 mcg/day without any side effects. The
same board set what is called the tolerable upper
intake level (UL) at 400 mcg a day.
In China, where a large number of the
selenium studies and treatment programs have been undertaken
over decades (they have widespread selenium deficiencies there), the UL is set
at 819 mcg/day with no adverse effects.
The "low adverse effect level" is considered to be 1,054 mcg/day.
SELENIUM
TOXICITY
Toxic symptoms, by the way, are
easy to recognize. The first
indications are "garlic breath" and dry skin. Later the fingernails acquire white
patches, become brittle, and fall off.
Studies in China have found that the nail and hair loss occurs when
selenium intake reaches 4,990 mcg/day (J
Trace Elem Electrolytes In Health And Disease 94;8:159-165).
Obviously, taking the 200-400 mcg/day,
which has been proven to help in cancer, AIDS, and
other conditions, on top of whatever one consumes in their diet, wouldn't be a
problem. Research consistently has
shown these levels to be totally safe and effective.
A bogus and rigged selenium study. A study is now underway on selenium,
but it uses only the RDA level of 55 mcg/day for a phase III study of 32,500
men, funded by the National Cancer Institute, to test the benefits of selenium
and vitamin E on preventing prostate cancer.
I suspect the results, which will be released after the 2013 completion date of the
study, will be underwhelming and cited as proof that selenium is worthless.
Honestly, they could save their money (actually our money), since research has
already proven it will be largely ineffective at that dosage. Even worse, hundreds of decent,
unsuspecting men will die needlessly, simply because they didn't receive the
amount of selenium they needed for cancer protection.
SOMETIMES
A GOOD DIET ISN'T ENOUGH
Ideally, we should be able to obtain
all the nutrients we need from our diet, but that is becoming more and more difficult.
Food sources for each of the three
amino acids I mentioned earlier (tryptophan, cysteine,
and glutamine, used in the production of glutathione) are those rich in
protein. This includes lamb, beef,
poultry, fish, and soft-cooked eggs.
RUSSIA
AND CHINA, THE LESS SPIRITUAL NATIONS, ARE DEFICIENT IN SELENIUM
Regarding selenium in foods, it depends
greatly on the amount of selenium in the soil. Russia and China have large areas of selenium-poor
soil. We routinely see reports of
selenium deficiency in those areas, since most of their food is
grown and eaten locally.
(As a side note, when you combine the low selenium content in China with
the mutation of viruses in low-selenium hosts, itÕs no wonder that so many
nasty viruses originate in the part of the world.)
SOIL
AVAILABILITY OF SELENIUM WORSENING
The
soil conditions everywhere on earth in regards to selenium availability are
worsening due to several factors.
First, acid rain has been created from
increased levels of sulfur and nitrogen in the atmosphere (due to
pollution). This changes the PH of
the soil, making it more difficult for selenium to bind to plant roots.
Additionally, heavy metals such as
mercury in rainfall quickly bind to selenium and form insoluble compounds. Both of these problems lower the amount
of selenium entering the food chain.
EUROPE
BANNED SOME SELENIUM SUPPLEMENTS
It
will be interesting to see what will happen in Europe over the next few
years. I wouldnÕt be surprised to
see a significant decrease in their overall health picture.
The European Union has recently
restricted the sale of some of the best forms of selenium supplements. Much of EuropeÕs soil is practically
devoid of selenium.
Much of their selenium comes from
imported wheat, but prices of the grain have skyrocketed and the drought in
Australia has limited supplies.
Australia, unlike the US, has severely selenium-deficient soils. This probably contributes to the high
incidence of asthma, skin cancer and other problems in that country.
IMPAIRED
DIGESTION AND SELENIUM DEFICIENCY
It is also important to note that
individuals with more serious digestive problems, such as CrohnÕs
disease, stomach stapling or other difficulties, have a much higher risk of selenium
deficiency.
This problem of absorbing and utilizing
selenium also applies to a lesser degree to most Americans and many others in
the world, thanks to their chaotic diets, hurried lifestyles, chemicals in
their food, sugar-eating habits, fruit-eating habits, and other problems having
to do with digestion.
WHERE
TO GET YOUR SELENIUM
Selenium is becoming more difficult to
obtain from our food supply.
Plants take up selenium from the soil and propagate it through the food
chain. The problem, however, is that the concentration
of selenium in the soil varies tremendously around the globe, as mentioned
earlier.
In
America, for example, the soil in the Midwest, derived from ancient sea beds,
contains as much as 50 ppm, which is as much as 1000
times the amount contained in the pacific Northwest, the great lakes area, the
Northeast or Florida, where levels are less than 0.05 ppm. As a result, the average selenium
intake varies from about 60-110 mcg daily in the US and only 11-67 mcg daily in
Europe.
(Dr. WilsonÕs note: We find that the best sources of selenium are sardines, organic blue corn as tortillas or
corn chips. Brazil nuts are
high in selenium, but is is less bioavailable
and Brazil nuts are too yin, so please do not consume them.
Beef and turkey are also food
sources, but the selenium content can vary somewhat. So supplements are helpful.)
(Dr. WilsonÕs note: For supplements, we prefer a food-based or
food-grown selenium supplement. We
use the one from Endomet Labs called Selenium or Selenase.)
For more on selenium, see the
article on this website entitled Selenium, A New Mineral
For Health.
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