Selenium

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Dear Reader,You could call it the "vitamin E helper." In the e-Alert "Twilight's Last Gleaming?" (7/13/04), I told you how a metallic trace element called selenium boosts the antioxidant power of vitamin E. And if that were all selenium did, that would be reason enough to make sure you're getting plenty of it in your diet. But there's much more to selenium than just being one of E's best friends. In previous e-Alerts I've told you about studies that show how selenium helps reduce the risk of prostate, liver, colorectal and esophageal cancers. In addition, selenium has superior antioxidant properties that may also help manage insulin levels. Now a new study from the UK confirms research that reveals selenium to be an important factor in maintaining a strong immune system. -- Granting immunity

-- The selenium content of grains, fruits and vegetables depends on the amount of selenium in the soil they're grown in. Because the level of selenium in the soil throughout the UK is low, researchers at the University of Liverpool designed a study to examine the effect of selenium supplements on the immune system. As reported in the current issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the Liverpool team recruited 22 subjects who had low concentrations of plasma selenium. Over a period of 15 weeks, subjects received supplements of 50 micrograms (mcg) of selenium, 100 mcg of selenium, or a placebo. Six weeks into the trial period, each subject was given an oral vaccine containing live attenuated poliomyelitis virus. By measuring certain systems that react to viruses (such as an increase of T cells and cytokines), researchers determined that

immune response was significantly boosted in those subjects who received selenium supplements, compared to the placebo group. In addition, subjects who took selenium cleared the virus from their bodies faster than the placebo subjects. In the conclusion to their study, the researchers state that even though supplements were effective in raising selenium to helpful levels – a daily supplement of more than 100 mcg may be necessary to provide optimal immune system response. --Highs and lows --As I've mentioned in previous e-Alerts, selenium comes with a warning about overdoing intake of this nutrient. And while it's true that mega-dosing might create problems, a toxic dose of selenium is actually hard to come by. The U.S. RDA for selenium is 55 mcg for women and 70 mcg for

men, but the average diet probably falls far short of that amount. I say "probably" because selenium levels in farmland soil are often deficient. In the U.S., selenium is highly concentrated in the soil of only six states: North and South Dakota, Utah, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Anyone who lives in these states and eats ample amounts of locally grown fruits and vegetables daily is probably getting a good selenium intake. But the rest of us are probably not, unless we're taking a selenium supplement. Research into the cancer-preventive qualities of selenium indicates that a daily intake needs to be around 200 mcg to insure adequate prevention. This is well over the RDA, of course, but you would have to get more than 2,500 mcg of selenium per day for an extended period to receive a toxic amount, so the chances of getting a dangerous dose are extremely slim. Besides fruit and vegetables, bread, fish, and meat all

contain selenium. The real selenium powerhouse, however, is the Brazil nut, delivering more than 800 mcg of selenium per ounce. --UK dilemma -- In the two e-Alerts I sent you earlier this week about the European Union Directive on Dietary Supplements, I told you that many key nutrients will soon not be available in supplement doses sufficient to produce a therapeutic effect. So selenium presents a perfect example of how the EU directive could impact the health of European Union citizens. According to NutraIngredients.com, the selenium content of UK soil is so low that the selenium levels in bread-making wheats are as much as 10 to 50 times lower than similar wheats in the U.S. and Canada. In other words, most UK citizens aren't getting nearly enough selenium in their diets. For

the time being, they have the option to supplement with as much selenium as they please. But in August 2005 their government will prohibit access to large doses of selenium. This so-called "protection" will simply make it more difficult to help prevent cancer and improve immune defense. **************************************************************What One of the World's Top Money Managers is Hiding in a British Warehouse ** Now worth $32 million--this little-known investment could soon be worth $300 MILLION (a more than 800% gain) ** There's one easy and low-risk way for you to get in on the deal... Full report at: http://www.youreletters.com/t/25733/2577399/352/0/(if you can't open here use the HTML links listed below)************************************************************** To start receiving your own copy of the HSI e-Alert,

visit:http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/freecopy.htmlOr forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up toreceive their own copy of the HSI e-Alert.**************************************************************...and another thing How do you like your fish? In the e-Alert "David Beats Goliath Again" (5/15/03), I told you about a University of Washington study that demonstrated how those who regularly eat tuna and other baked or broiled fish (3 or more times per week) may have a significantly lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) than those who eat the same fish infrequently. Those who regularly eat fried fish, however, could have a higher risk of both heart attack and death due to CHD.Now a new study from a team of Canadian and Australian researchers reveals that fish consumption may also lower the risk of certain cancers. Using data from a population-based study conducted in Canada

between 1994 and 1998, dietary information was examined for more than 4,202 subjects without cancer, almost 920 subjects with leukemia, over 1,400 subjects with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and about 290 subjects with myeloma. Weekly intake of fresh fish was studied, from which the researchers estimated total energy intake and total fat intake for each subject. In the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, the researchers wrote: "People who consumed greater proportions of their total energy intake from fresh fish had a significantly lower risk of each of the three types of cancer" In addition, researchers found that those who ate the most fish reduced their risk of leukemia by 45 percent, compared to subjects who ate the least amount of fish. The study didn't address fish preparation, but judging by the term "fresh fish," I think we can be certain that those who enjoyed the most benefits

of fish consumption were not eating fried filet-o-fish from their local fast food joint. To Your Good Health,Jenny ThompsonHealth Sciences Institute **************************************************************DRIVE OUT TOXINS AND FEEL BRAND NEWRevolutionary new program that could end YOUR 'hopeless hurts' forever!If you've ever suffered terrible headaches...or uncontrollable joint pain... If you've ever felt listless and sapped of energy...or immobilized by colon cramps... I'll bet you've wondered hundreds of times...WHY ME??? But it's not just you. It's an epidemic. Millions of Americans are going to their doctors, complaining of these symptoms, only to hear them say 'live with it.' Don't make your body muddle through for even one more day, Learn more about the ultimate healingprogram, visit: http://www.youreletters.com/t/25733/2577399/353/0/(if you can't open here use the HTML

links listed below) ************************************************************ To start receiving your own copy of the HSI e-Alert, visit:http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/freecopya.htmlOr forward this e-mail to a friend so they can sign-up toreceive their own copy of the HSI e-Alert.**************************************************************Sources: "An Increase in Selenium Intake Improves Immune Function and Poliovirus Handling in Adults with Marginal Selenium Status" American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 80, No. 1, July 2004, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov "Lack of Selenium May Impact Immune Response" NutraIngredients.com, 6/23/04, nutraingredients.com "Dietary Fish Intake and Risk of Leukaemia, Multiple Myeloma, and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma" Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, Vol. 13, April 2004, cebp.aacrjournals.org "Fish Eaters at Lower Risk of Lymph, Blood Cancers"

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