From the journal Alternatives,12:14; 105-111, Aug 2008
With
editorial notes by Lawrence Wilson, MD
-
updated March 2011.
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 sexual intercourse. 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.
TREATING AIDS WITH SELENIUM, CYSTEINE, GLUTAMINE AND TRYPTOPHAN
Numerous doctors have started treating their AIDS patients
utilizing either increased amounts of supplemental selenium or the four basic
components of glutathione peroxidase - selenium, cysteine, glutamine, and tryptophan - and have seen
remarkable results.
Increasing glutathione levels with the selenium and cysteine makes the immune system more responsive to viruses
and cancer as well. Glutamine helps alleviate depression problems and helps
heal the intestinal tract, resulting in better digestion and the elimination of
diarrhea.
Advanced AIDS patients have been shown to have tryptophan
levels at about half the amount of those with the disease. Increasing
tryptophan helps protect against dementia by increasing serotonin levels in the
brain.
The idea has not been to "eliminate" HIV from the
body, which many researchers now feel would be impossible, but rather to supply
it and the rest of the body with adequate amounts of selenium. It's more of an
effort to live with the virus much like we can live with other potentially
harmful pathogens in our body, but keep it in check to minimize any harm. The
additional selenium and the antioxidants associated with it help stop the virus
from replicating and invading other cells to "feed" its need for
selenium.
Not only is this program very cost-effective at $10 to $20 a
month, it has been instrumental in allowing patients to live normal, otherwise
healthy, productive lives. I've spoken with many of these patients, and
practically all of the long-term survivors are on programs that include
selenium, N-acetylcysteine (NAC)
to increase glutathione levels, and other antioxidants.
I have a report of one individual who has been HIV-positive
for 21 years. After undergoing practically every known treatment, he still had
detectible levels of HI V-until he took selenium. After taking a 200 microgram
daily dose his viral load dropped from 20,000/mL to 49, which is considered
undetectable. Additionally, he hasn't been sick since taking the selenium and
has experienced no side effects whatsoever.
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 prevents 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).
THE
REST OF THE STORY
One of the primary reasons the public has never discovered
the necessity and benefits of selenium stems from the fear of toxicity (a needless
fear, as you'll see). Selenium is definitely one of those compounds that, if
its use became more widespread, would put a huge dent in the multi-trillion
dollar health care system.
MANIPULATION OF SELENIUM RDAs
The common tactic to discourage
the use of a vitamin, mineral, or other supplement 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.
Also,
whey protein found in raw dairy products is another way to raise and maintain
higher glutathione levels in the body.
RUSSIA
AND CHINA 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.
Currently, the best dietary source of selenium remains the
Brazil nut. Nuts that you have to
crack yourself have an average of 100 mcg of selenium each. Already-cracked nuts only contain about
1/8 to 1/4 that amount. (The
processed nuts come from a different area of Brazil, where the soil levels of
selenium are lower.)
(Dr. WilsonÕs note: I find that better food sources of selenium are
sardines, organic blue and yellow
corn as tortillas or corn chips, raw dairy such as raw cows or goat cheese, and
Hawaiian Jade sea salt. The
problem with Brazil nuts is they are too yin, so please do not consume them.
Other fish, beef, turkey, seafood, mushrooms, eggs and
brewerÕs yeast are also food sources, but the selenium content can vary
somewhat. So supplements are
helpful.
(Dr. WilsonÕs note: For supplements, I 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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