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Selenium
Quantum Wellness Natural Health
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There is no doubt that selenium in excessive doses
can be toxic to the body. But in the appropriate doses can be one
of the most beneficial minerals to to our long term health and
longevity. Selenium is an essential mineral found in minute
amounts in the body. The nutrient is an important part of the
antioxidant enzymes that protect cells against the effects of free
radicals that are produced during normal oxygen metabolism. It
works with vitamin E preventing damage to cell membranes.
The mineral has been found to play an important role in the
promotion of normal body growth and fertility along side zinc. The
mineral also appears to preserve elasticity of tissue by delaying
oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids. It is necessary for the
production of prostaglandin, substances that affect blood
pressure. A prostaglandin deficiency also results in a deficiency
of other compounds necessary for keeping the arteries free from
platelet aggregation which leads to hardening of the arteries.
Selenium improves certain energy-producing cells, including those
of the heart, by ensuring adequate oxygen supply.
For decades, the importance of selenium was unclear. Today,
selenium is one of the most documented and widely studied trace
element known. Numerous studies have shown its importance to the
body.
Selenium pays a greater role in human
health than first thought though as the research has been compiled
it has been discovered that selenium plays a broad role in the on
going health of the body. For example, a deficiency of selenium
may lead to premature aging due to its ability preserve tissue
elasticity. A defective selenium absorption mechanism can result
in neuronal damage, a disease that accumulates pigment in nerve
cells and is characterized by mental retardation, diminished
vision, nerve disorders, and eventually death.
Selenium is essential for reproduction. Animal tests reveal that
selenium-deficient rats produced immobile sperm and most of the
sperm were broken near the tail. Other studies show that a
selenium deficiency results in infertility. Low levels of selenium
are linked with a higher risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease,
inflammatory diseases, and other conditions associated with free
radical damage, including premature ageing and cataract damage.
It has also been found to be an important element that protects
against high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, and
hypertensive kidney damage. Selenium with vitamin E has been used
successfully in reducing or eliminating recurrent angina attacks
and increasing strength and vigour and improving electrocardiograms
in heart patients. It has been used successfully in improving the
condition of persons with cystic fibrosis. Muscular dystrophy
patients respond positively to selenium and vitamin E. Research in
the early 1970s has proved that selenium protects against
radiation. It also binds to metals such lead, mercury, aluminium ,
cadmium, silver, and thallium, preventing their absorption in the
body and aiding their
excretion.
Selenium helps your body produce
glutathione, your most potent defence against the oxidative stress
of intense training. When you exert yourself for extended periods,
you take in extra amounts of oxygen, increasing the risk of free
radical activity in the body. Free radicals are unpaired electrons
which can damage cellular DNA, delaying the recovery period
between training bouts and leaving your body vulnerable to illness
and accelerated ageing. Inner urban lifestyles put us at greater
risk of free radical invasion via a combination of exhaust fumes,
pollution, smoking, alcohol consumption and stress.
One the most exciting discoveries is
the role selenium plays in the defending our bodies against
cancer. The mineral has been shown to reduce cancer mortality by
50% over a ten year period. This was reported in the Journal of
the American Medical Association (JAMA) Dec 25, 1996. In a study
carried out by the Life Extension Foundation, it was found that a
combination of beta-carotene and selenium reduced the incidence of
lung cancer by 46%.
There are several hypotheses as to how selenium works, including :
• Protection against free radicals
• The effect selenium has on hormone and immune systems
• Alterations to carcinogen metabolism
• Inhibition of cancer-causing enzymes
• Stimulation of apoptosis (Cancer cell death)
It was noted in a JAMA study that patients taking 200mcg of
selenium per day had an increase of 67% in their plasma serum
levels. This was compared with the placebo group whose level did
not rise, but did not fall below a deficient level. This was in a
sample of over 1,300 people aged 18 – 80 over a nine month period.
These results are extraordinary as it shows that to decrease the
risk of cancer, selenium levels must be elevated and normal levels
are inadequate. Must we not then postulate that the level of
plasma selenium considered normal should be re-evaluated?
In that study it was specifically found that supplementation of
selenium reduced prostate cancer by 63%, colon-rectal cancer reduced by 58%
and lung cancer reduced by 46%.
From these results it was found that
there was an overall decrease of 37% in cancer incidents and there
was a 50% reduction in mortality due to cancer. What I find
fascinating is that up till recently, despite all the evidence
supporting the benefits on this mineral, organizations such as
the "Therapeutic Goods Authority" in Australia had classified
this mineral as a toxic substance. Due to much pressure from the
general public and alternative health industry the mineral was
reclassified and now a maximum of 200 mcg can be included into
supplements.
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