Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 : Thu, 26 Jun 2003 10:57:31 -0500 HSI - Jenny Thompson P53, Where Are You? P53, Where Are You? Health Sciences Institute e-Alert June 26, 2003 ************************************************************** Dear Reader, Don't tell those purple pill people, but it's selenium time again. This has almost become an e-Alert tradition: every two or three months I find a new study that reminds us just how important it is to get adequate amounts of selenium in our diets. In previous e-Alerts I told you how selenium helps fight autoimmune disorders, increase insulin efficiency, and curb the mutation of viruses. More importantly, selenium has been shown to reduce both the risk and mortality for prostate, liver and colorectal cancers. Now another cancer can be added to that list: esophageal cancer - a disease closely associated with chronic heartburn and acid reflux. ----------------------------- The selenium millennium ----------------------------- When acid reflux causes digestive acids in the stomach to be regurgitated into the esophagus, damage to the lower esophagus often results in an abnormal healing process that causes the wrong type of cells to grow in the damaged area. This condition is known as Barrett's esophagus. Painful acid reflux and heartburn symptoms may recede, but the new cell growth substantially increases the risk of esophageal cancer. Knowing that elevated selenium levels may reduce the risk of other cancers, researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center collaborated with a team at the University of Washington School of Medicine to study the relationship of selenium blood levels in Barrett's patients. The Seattle Barrett's Esophagus Program provided 399 subjects for the test - all diagnosed with Barrett's. In addition to the analysis of blood samples and medical history, esophageal tissue specimens were collected and examined for DNA content. Results showed a clear association between high selenium levels and a reduced risk that those with Barrett's would develop esophageal cancer. More specifically, elevated selenium in the blood was associated with a significantly better chance that an important tumor-suppressing gene called p53 would be activated. (Just last year an Indiana University School of Medicine study showed striking evidence that selenium intake triggers activity of the p53 gene.) These results are particularly significant because therapies have not yet been developed that would protect Barrett's patients from esophageal cancer - a fast-growing cancer that is frequently fatal. ----------------------------- No fear of effective doses ----------------------------- All commentary about selenium inevitably comes with a warning about overdoing selenium intake, and the commentary I found for this study was no exception. In a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center press release, the authors of the study warn that " megadosing " with selenium supplements is not recommended. And we would agree with that, but I would add this note: a toxic dose of selenium is hard to come by. The U.S. RDA for selenium if 55 mcg, and the average diet probably falls short of that amount. I say " probably " because the selenium content of fruits and vegetables depends on the selenium content of the soil they're grown in. In the U.S., selenium is most highly concentrated in the soil of six western states: North and South Dakota, Utah, Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Anyone who lives in these states and eats large amounts of fruits and vegetables daily might be at slight risk of getting too much selenium, but only if they're also taking a high dosage selenium supplement as well. Dr. Martin L. Smith, the author of the Indiana University study on the tumor-suppressing p53 gene, noted that in order to reap the cancer preventive qualities of selenium, daily intake should be around 200 mcg. 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, weighing in at 840 mcg of selenium per ounce. ----------------------------- Not a minute too early ----------------------------- The authors of the Fred Hutchinson research state that it's too early to recommend selenium supplements for Barrett's patients, but I disagree. Supplements in moderate doses will not do any harm in the average person and the list of selenium's benefits is long and impressive. So Barrett's patients, as well as anyone with chronic heartburn or acid reflux, would almost certainly be giving themselves an important preventive benefit with a daily selenium supplement. For further prevention of Barrett's esophagus, those who are experiencing gastro-esophageal problems should talk to their doctors. For chronic cases, however, you want to avoid any over-the-counter antacids or prescription medications, which neutralize stomach acids. Those acids are there for a reason - we need them to digest food! Anyone searching for a safe, effective, and inexpensive way to treat acid reflux and heartburn need look no further than the e-Alert " Fire Down Below " (12/23/02), in which HSI Panelist Allan Spreen, M.D., outlined a simple regimen that uses readily available acidophilus and digestive enzymes. Dr. Spreen's protocol, when combined with a daily selenium supplement, makes for an effective plan that just might prevent the chain of events that leads to esophageal cancer. ************************************************************** ...and another thing I'm sure you probably heard the reports this week about the newest setback for the combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) of estrogen-progestin. The Women's Health Initiative study was stopped short one year ago when it became clear that estrogen-progestin increased the risk of breast cancer, heart attack, and strokes. But research using the data from that study goes on, and the latest findings are nothing less than a disaster. Examining records of more than 16,000 women, researchers concluded that combined HRT tends to make breast cancer tumors more aggressive and harder to detect, reducing the chances for successful treatment. If this were an ocean liner, the lifeboats would already be a mile away from the ship. A spokesman for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals (the makers of Prempro, the brand name for estrogen-progestin) told the Associated Press that hormone therapy remains " an appropriate therapy when used at the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time. " Is that an absolute gem of drug company double-speak? That's about as close as you can get to saying, " Stop using it. " Which may be the best advice for the 3 million U.S. women who still are. To Your Good Health, Jenny Thompson Health Sciences Institute ************************************************************** Sources: " Serum Selenium Levels in Relation to Markers of Neoplastic Progression Among Persons With Barrett's Esophagus " Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 95, No. 10, 750-757, 5/21/03, jncicancerspectrum.oupjournals.org " Selenium May Inhibit Progression Toward Barrett's-Related Esophageal Cancer " Fred Huctchinson Cancer Research Center, press release, 5/20/03, eurekalert.org " What is Barrett's Esophagus? " Johns Hopkins Pathology, pathology2.jhu.edu " HRT Linked to Aggressive Tumors " Associated Press, 6/24/03, msnbc.com Copyright ©1997-2003 by www.hsibaltimore.com, L.L.C. The e-Alert may not be posted on commercial sites without written permission. ************************************************************** Before you hit reply to send us a question or request, please click here http://www.hsibaltimore.com/ealert/questions.html ************************************************************** ************************************************************** If you'd like to participate in the HSI Forum, search past e-Alerts and products or you're an HSI member and would like to search past articles, visit http://www.hsibaltimore.com ************************************************************** To learn more about HSI, call (203) 699-4416 or visit http://www.agora-inc.com/reports/HSI/WHSIC313/home.cfm. ************************************************************** Gettingwell- / Vitamins, Herbs, Aminos, etc. To , e-mail to: Gettingwell- Or, go to our group site: Gettingwell SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.