Research on the Mineral Selenium
The following articles are presented as a reflection for
the use of ionic minerals selenium as a dietary supplement and nutritional supplement. You
will find more on selenium here. You can also
purchase this diet supplement below.
Biological Trace Element Research (USA), 1997, 56/1 (31-41)
Serum selenium levels were
determined cross-sectionally in 57 HIV- infected patients who were classified according to
the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 1993 classification system. Mean serum selenium levels were lower in CDC stage II (58.7 plus or minus 12.2
microg/L; P <0.01; n="18)" and stage III (47.6 plus or minus 11.3 microg/L; P
< 0.01; n="19)" HIV-infected patients, than in healthy subjects (80.6 plus or
minus 9.6 microg/L; n="48)" and stage I patients (73.6 plus or minus 16.5
microg/L; n="20)." Serum selenium levels were
positively correlated with CD4 count, CD4/8 ratio, hematocrit, and serum albumin
(r="0.42;" r="0.39;" r="0.48;" and r="0.45;" P
< 0.01, respectively) and inversely with serum levels of thymidine kinase
(r="-" 0.49; P < 0.01; n="49)" and beta2-microglobulin
(r="-" 0.46; P < 0.001; n="49)." In addition, serum selenium levels in 20 randomly selected AIDS-free individuals (CDC
I: n="10;" CDC II: n="10)" were inversely correlated with serum
concentrations of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors (sTNFR)
types I and II. There was no correlation with serum immunoglobulin A and total serum
protein levels. The results show that the progressive deprivation of serum selenium in HIV- infection is associated with loss of CD4+-cells
and with increased levels of markers of disease progression and inflammatory response.
J. NUTR. IMMUNOL. (USA), 1994, 3/1 (41-49)
An important role for selenium
in immune processes has been described, with selenium
appearing to affect non-specific immune indices, humoral immunity, cell-mediated immunity
and cytotoxicity. Whereas low plasma selenium levels have
been correlated with decreased natural killer (NK) cell activity, as well as proliferative
response of lymphocytes to mitogens in vitro, supplementation with selenium
has been associated with enhanced lymphocyte response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and
pokeweed (PWM) and with enhanced NK activity when administered in physiological ranges,
but not at pharmacological doses. The investigation of selenium
status in HIV-1 infection is of particular interest, in light of studies documenting low
plasma selenium levels and decreased glutathionine peroxidase
activity in adult patients with AIDS. Moreover, alterations in selenium
levels have been associated with immune dysregulation in early HIV-1 infection. As
examination of pediatric nutritional status in HIV-1 disease has been restricted in scope,
this study was designed to characterize selenium status and
examine its relationship to immune function, in HIV-1 infected children.
CHEM.-BIOL. INTERACT. (Ireland), 1994, 91/2-3 (165-180)
Deficiency in antioxidant micronutrients have been observed
in patients with AIDS. These observations concerning only some isolated nutrients
demonstrate a defect in zinc, selenium, and glutathione. An
increase in free radical production and lipid peroxidation has been also found in these
patients, and takes a great importance with recent papers presenting an immunodeficiency
and more important an increase in HIV-1 replication secondary to free radicals
overproduction. We have assessed different studies, trying to obtain a global view of the
antioxidant status of these patients. In adults we observe a progressive decrease for
zinc, selenium, and vitamin E with the severity of disease,
except that selenium remains normal at stage II. However, the
main dramatic decrease concerns carotenoids whose level at stage II is only half the
normal value. To understand if these decreases in antioxidant and increases in oxidative
stress occur secondary to the aggravation of the disease or, conversely, are responsible
for it, we undertook a longitudinal survey of asymptotic patients. The preliminary results
of this evaluation are presented. Paradoxically, lipid peroxidation is higher at stage II
than at stage IV. This may be consecutive to a more intense overproduction of oxygen free
radicals by more viable polymorphonuclear (PMN) at the asymptomatic stage. The free
radicals production and lipid peroxidation seem secondary to a direct induction by the
virus of PMN stimulation and cytokines secretion. N-Acetyl cysteine or ascorbate have been
demonstrated in cell culture to be capable of blocking the expression of HIV-1 after
oxidative stress and N-acetyl cysteine inhibits in vitro TNF-induced apoptosis of infected
cells. In regard to all these experimental data, few serious and large trials of
antioxidants have been conducted in HIV-infected patients, although some preliminary
studies using zinc or selenium have been performed. In our
opinion it is now time to evaluate in humans the beneficial effect of antioxidants. The
more promising candidates for presenting synergistic effects when associated with N-acetyl
cysteine seem to be beta-carotene, selenium and zinc.
Archives of Toxicology (Germany), 1996, 70/5 (277-283)
The eukaryotic transcription factor NF-kappaB is involved
in the inducible expression of various inflammatory genes as well as in HIV-1 replication.
Activation of NF-kappaB is induced by prooxidants and several stimuli eliciting oxidative
stress, such as cytokines, lipopolysaccharide, UV irradiation and other mediators. Various
antioxidants inhibit NF-kappaB activation in response to these stimuli. In this study, we
have investigated the effects of selenium, an integral
component of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), on NF-kappaB activation. In selenium-deprived Jurkat and ESb-LT lymphocytes, supplementation of
selenium led to a substantial increase of GPX activity.
Analysis of DNA binding revealed that NF-kappaB activation in response to TNF was
significantly inhibited under these conditions. Likewise, reporter gene assays using
luciferase constructs driven by the HIV-1 long terminal repeat showed a dose-dependent
inhibition of NF-kappaB controlled gene expression by selenium.
The effects of selenium were specific for NF-kappaB, since
the activity of the transcription factor AP-1 was not suppressed. These data suggest that selenium supplementation may be used to modulate the expression of
NF-kappaB target genes and HIV-1.
Z Gesamte Inn Med (GERMANY) May 1993, 48 (5) p223-32
Our investigations carried out in patients with diabetes
mellitus revealed oxidative stress loads. The study presented here was to clarify whether
a therapy with antioxidants can contribute to an improvement of prognosis. 80 patients
affected with a long term diabetic late syndrome were randomised and arranged to 4 groups
of n = 20 each. In contrast to a control group these patients received 600 mg of alpha
lipoic acid or 100 micrograms of selenium (sodium selenite)
daily or 1200 IE of D-alpha-tocopherol respectively for a time of 3 months. In comparison
with the control group all groups treated in an antioxidative way showed significantly
diminished serum concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and of urinary
albumin excretion rates. The symptoms of distal symmetric neuropathy measured according to
the thermo- and vibration sensitivity also improved in a highly significant manner. The
results prove that oxidative stress plays a promoting role in developing of long term
diabetic late complications and that a therapy with adjuvant antioxidants may lead to a
regression of diabetic late complications.
Biomed Environ Sci (UNITED STATES) Jun 1994, 7 (2) p109-15
The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px),
glutathione reductase (GSSG-R), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the contents of
malondialdehyde (MDA) and free radicals were measured, and the morphological changes were
observed in the lens of control rats, selenium-deficient
(SeD) and/or vitamin E deficient (VED) rats. The activities of GSH-Px in the lens of SeD
rats decreased significantly. The GSH-Px activities of lens were positively related to
erythrocytes selenium level. There was a free radical at g =
2.0015 in the rat lens of all groups, but the content of free radicals in the lens of SeD
group was significantly higher than that of the control group. The free radical content of
lens was negatively related to erythrocytes selenium level,
as well as the GSH-Px activities in the lens. In vitro, ultraviolet radiation caused the
generation of another kind of free radical (g = 2.0097) in the lens of all groups, but the
amount of the free radical in the lens of the SeD group was also significantly higher than
that of the control group. The activities of SOD and GSSG-R in VED rat lens were
significantly decreased. The amount of MDA in the lens of SeD and/or VED rats were
significantly increased. The results showed that the decrease of antioxidative capability
in the lenses of SeD and/or VED rats accelerated the lipid peroxidation and generation of
free radicals. Although only early morphological changes in SeD and/or VED rat lens were
observed, it is considered that selenium and vitamin E
deficiency may be involved in the occurrence of cataract.
Current Opinion in Rheumatology (USA), 1995, 7/6 (497-502)
Skeletal muscle involvement may occur at all stages of HIV
infection. The most simple classification of muscular disorders in HIV-infected patients
is 1) HIV-associated myopathies, 2) zidovudine myopathy, 3) HIV wasting syndrome, and 4)
opportunistic infections and tumoral infiltrations of muscle. Immunohistology for major
histocompatibility complex class 1 antigen and histochemical reaction for cytochrome c
oxidase are helpful in correctly classifying a myopathy as HIV polymyositis or zidovudine
myopathy. Studies of cytokine expression in HIV-infected patients and of supplementation
with compounds such as carnitine or micronutrients such as selenium
might yield new insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of the various AIDS-
associated muscular disorders.
Nutrition Clinique et Metabolisme (France), 1996, 10/2
(69-76)
Adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity could be due to free
radical formation, which induces lipid peroxidation and membrane damage. We have studied
the effect of oral supplementation with selenium (Se) and/or
vitamin E (Vit. E) on myocardiopathy in rats treated by adriamycin (ADM). Animals were
divided into groups by ADM (ADM) or NaCl 0.15 M solution (Control group = C); standard
diet (SD); ADM I and C I; SD with Se; ADM II and C II; SD with Vit. E; ADM III and C III;
SD with Se and Vit. E; ADM IV and C IV. All rats received ADM or saline solution by the
intraperitoneal route. Ascitis and survival were observed throughout 18 weeks and hearts
were studied histologically. Survival was 100% for controls while median survival was 12
(ADM I and II), 14 (ADM III) and 16 weeks (ADM IV) in treated rats. Ascitis was
significantly less marked in ADM IV compared with ADM I (p = 0.02). Heart weight was
decreased in ADM I, II and III compared with those of controls (p = 0.001) while it was
similar to controls in ADM IV. Cardiac lesions studied by semi-quantitative histology were
less severe in ADM IV. Se associated with Vit. E could prevent cardiac toxicity induced by
ADM treatment and may be helpful to clinicians in chemotherapy using anthracycline.
Cancer Lett. 1994 Jul 29. 82(2). P 153-65
Naturally occurring anticarcinogens, such as vitamins C and
E, and the microelement selenium were found to inhibit the
induction of benzo[a]pyrene-induced malignant tumors in Wistar rats to various extends.
The antineoplastic effect of the tested anticarcinogens is gradually increased according
to the number of inhibitors selected. To date the maximum action against malignancy is
manifested by use of the above three inhibitors. In the group of rats receiving vitamins
C, E and selenium, the prolongation of life induced by adding
more than one anticarcinogen to the treatment regime reached, and in some cases surpassed,
the normal life expectancy of the rats. It is expected that by adding even more
anticarcinogens, the antineoplastic potency (Ap) of the inhibitors will be further
improved. These results encouraged us to conduct a clinical trial in terminal human cancer
cases, in conjunction with the usual treatments of surgery or chemotherapy and
irradiation.
Support Care Cancer. 1993 Nov. 1(6). P 295-7
The potential of a high intake of fresh fruits and
vegetables in cancer prevention is well established. Epidemiological studies support
carotene, vitamins A, C, E and selenium as the active
compounds. Antioxidant properties and direct effects (e.g. inhibition of N-nitrosamine
formation or cell-to-cell interactions) are invoked. The role of other trace elements is
less clear. The modulation of immune function by vitamins and trace elements remains
important and affects survival. In established cancers, the site-specific differences in
the diet/cancer relation require appropriate dietary changes, e.g. low fat (20% by energy)
in breast cancer, or high vegetable or fruit intake in lung cancer. Single high-dose
supplements (e.g. vitamin C) have proved to have no curative or life-prolonging effect.
Chemotherapy and radiation increase the requirements for antioxidant compounds.
Supplementation can diminish the damage induced by peroxidation. Carefully planned and
monitored trials that establish the optimal intake of micronutrients as adjuvants in
cancer patients are required.
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