06 July 2012
Regular intake of selenium supplements seems to decrease risk of mortality in women with breast cancer, suggests a new Swedish study.
In this observational study, researchers surveyed the dietary intake of selenium in 3,146 women with invasive breast cancer and measured cases of breast cancer-related death over 12 years (1). The study results showed that women with the lowest intake of selenium were 31 percent more likely to die from breast cancer, compared to those with the highest intake. The association between dietary selenium intake and breast cancer -related death seemed strongest when taking smoking into account: of the group with the lowest intake of selenium, smokers were 66 more likely to die compared to non-smokers.
The researchers concluded that women who take selenium before being diagnosed with breast cancer may improve their chances of breast cancer–specific survival as well as improving their overall life expectancy. Selenium is known to be a cofactor in the production of antioxidant enzymes that may play a role in cancer survival.
An estimated 210,000 women in the United States are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, according to the National Cancer Institute. The disease alone, as well as complications which arise during treatment, are expected to kill about 40,000 of those women. Breast cancer is preventable in many cases. A healthy lifestyle, including following a healthy diet, can help reduce the risk of cancer, the scientists noted.
30 March 2011
Medical evidence on positive outcomes of fighting vitamin D deficiency has risen significantly in the past years.
1 October 2014
As concentrated sources of micronutrients designed to supplement the normal diet, dietary supplements can be used to balance specific dietary deficits or to ensure adequate intakes. However, in some cases too high an intake of micronutrients can have adverse effects on health or cause undesirable side effects; for this reason it is necessary to define maximum intakes to guarantee the safety of their use in dietary supplements. Since the European legislative authority has not yet established uniform maximum intakes across the whole of Europe, manufacturers of dietary supplements and fortified foods are guided by recommended daily amounts and scientifically recognized upper limits for safe total daily intakes. This also applies to safe intakes for minerals present in the body, whether as macro-elements in concentrations of at least 50 mg per kg dry body weight, or as trace elements (micro-elements) in concentrations of under 50 mg per kg body weight (see also The safety of micronutrients – Part 1: fat-soluble vitamins and Part 2: water-soluble vitamins).
1 November 2010
Among the components in foodstuff that contribute to health, micronutrients such as vitamins, carotenoids and minerals are essential. A key factor in maintaining health is the ‘ antioxidant ’ capacity of several micronutrients. Such antioxidants are thought to reduce the risks of chronic illnesses such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases through their ability to supplement cellular defense systems (e.g. antioxidant enzymes) in removing “ Reactive Oxygen Species ” (ROS) and “Reactive Nitrogen Species” (RNS). ROS and RNS are highly reactive “free radicals,” which are produced during the body’s normal energy-generating process. These free radicals (or “pro-oxidants”) trigger chain reactions, resulting in the rapid oxidation of cellular molecules. The increased exposure to free radicals, known as “ oxidative or nitrosative stress ”, can lead to DNA, lipid and protein damage and potentially increase the risk of cardiovascular illnesses and cancer.
