Selenium

Anonymous · January 2009

Hi every one,

I would like to give you the references of a study :

"Reduction of cacner mortality and incidence by selenium supplementation" MED KLIN (Munich) 1997 sep 15 92 suppl 3: 42-5"

This study showes the following : Patients who take a supplementation of 200 micrograms of selenium per day during the treatment (Plus vitamins C and E and beta caroten) had e better surival rate. (Exept for skin cancer)

I know some hospitals already use this method and I will try for me. Anyway these products don't have saide effects at this dosage.

Of course it's not a substitue of the treatment but an additional action.

I will also eat food with omega 3 antioxidants.

Have a nice week end

Wylma

Rosemary44 · January 2009

Instead of supplementing, why not just eat 2 brazil nuts a day. Vitamin A has been known to offset vitamin D. So supplementing A can cause problems, just eat your spinach and carrots, and goji berries for antioxidants.

wallycat · January 2009

Be careful with selenium supplements....studies show too much selenium can produce type 2 diabetes.

paige-allyson · January 2009

From what I've read 2 Brazil nuts per day is the way to go. This is a case where more does not equal better- they have a lot of fat but it is the best way to meet your selenium needs, and there is evidence that getting adequate selenium may interfere with cancer promotion/development.

Sierra · January 2009

I have taken a small amount of selenium since dx

in year 2000.. not a lot..

also.. Brazil nuts are good

must get me some .. forgot about that

Hugs, Sierra

Anonymous · January 2009

Hi,

It's me again. I just have 2 more informations.

The selenium can give diabetes, but only if there is an excess. The amount in the study is ot dangerous.

The supplementations I talk about in my message (selenium and vitamin A beta caroten) are efficient against cancer. A second study shows that the lack of selenium increases the cancer rate.

The exception is vitamin E. It was included in the study but recent informations shows that vitamin E alone doesn't help. If you have an healthy diet, you don't need a supplementation of this vitamin.

Have a nice Day

Wylma

Luckysmom · January 2009

I have been taking a selenium supplement ever since 2006 as a preventative against cancer recurrance ... my doc is fine with it as it's not at an excessive dosage ...

pod1257 · January 2009

200mcgs of selenium is the upper limit to take daily. Any more can produce toxicity.

Julie

Rosemary44 · January 2009

Nor would I supplement vitamin A. You feel it first in your hips. A offsets D, and we need that more than A. Plus A is in a lot of veggies. Natural A from foods seems to be fine for us.

jancie · February 2009

Selenium with Vitamin E is a supplement that is given to horses, however it can cause them to die if you don't follow the exact dosage amounts.

Not trying to compare horses to humans but if it is toxic to horses I can only by using common sense believe that it is also very toxic to humans if you take too much.

Anonymous · January 2010

Hi,

I think you must ASK YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE TAKING ANY SUPPLEMENTATION .and make sure there are no interractions. you say some hospitals use it ok but not for any kind od cancer and treatment.

Sometimes they can help but sometimes they can also have interractions with the chemotherapy (or datiotherapy) and reduce thier efficiency. (Also vitamins)

Of course it would be a pity not ta take benefit of the advantages of selenium if it doesn't have interractions but it's always better to ask.

If it's not possible to take it during the period of chemo/radiotherapy you can maybe use it before or/and after. Ask your doctor when you can stop and start again.

The maximal dosage of selenium is 200 MICROgrams a day

And you have to know that beta caroten can increase the risk of cancer for smockers

Have a nice day

Anonymous · January 2010

Hi,

A last info. selenium pills that contains saflavones can have interractions with some breast cancer therapies. so be careful.

Bye

S

Anonymous · January 2010

Hello,

I have another information about vitamins.

In some situation they can have interraction but in some other they can decrease the side effects and increase the efficency of the conventional therapy.

It depends of the kind nc cancer and the kind of treatment.

Ask your doctor because it would also be a pity not to take advantage of vitamins if they don't interfer. You can ask for several opinions.

It also depend of the dose.

It can also depend on the timing. If you can't take them during the period of chemotherapy or radiotherapy it could be interesting to take it before and/or after. Your doctor can tell you when to start and to stop

Anyway,with or without supplementation, an helthy and natural food (5 fruits and vegetables a day) is always good.

On the other hand, vitamin E decreases the efficiency of the therapy in almost all the studies..

Have a nice day

jancie · January 2010

Since I first responded to this post in February - it showed up in active topics again - I remembered the news story of the 21 polo ponies that died of selenium overdose. Now mind you these horses weight typically 900 to 1000 lbs.

The website is:

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/04/selenium_overdose_caused_death.php

Here is a partial part of the story: I can't seem to paste in Mozilla Firefox so I will just type this out...

The vets prescription requested 0.5 mg of sodium selenite per milliliter of the cocktail but the chemist added 5 mg, or ten times that amount. According to the National Research Council, a single minimal lethal oral dose of sodium selenite in horses is 3.3 mg/kg, but a fatal injected preparation, such as what these horses received contains a much smaller dose.

Selenium is a naturally-occuring mineral that is essential to good health in tiny amounts, but it is fatal in large doses. Symptoms of selenium poisoning include pulmonary edema, reduced blood pressure, unconsciousness and death.

I know horses and people are not the same but selenium is very toxic if you take too much so I guess what I am trying to say is to double check and triple check the amount that you can take without having issues with toxic poisoning.

By the way, all of these horses died within 3 hours of getting the shots.

Anonymous · January 2010

Hi,
When I talk about beta caroten I forgot to tell it's Betacaroten Pills (supplementation) In the study they say we should ask our doctor (also for people who dont't smoke)

Bye

PS : We should avoid selenium pills that contains saflavones for some treatments of breast cancer. On the other hand selenium can also help in many situations. But as always ask your doctor

Anonymous · January 2010

Hi,

Some other informations

It depends of the period. If it's not possible to take the supplementation during the period of chemotherapy or the radiotherapy maybe it can be useful to take it before and/or after. Ask your doctor when you can stop and stard again.

When I say vitamin E always decreases the efficiency ot the conventional therapies, the others supplementation can increase or decrease it according to the situation.

If it's not possible to take supplementation of selenium you can take it with natural food (Tuna). But tell your doctor about your diet¨

Have a nice day

S

Anonymous · January 2010

Hi,

Here are some news :

1) Some websites of supplementation say they have no interraction it's not always true.

2) You also have to ask if you haveradiotherapy.

4) For the beta caroten it's better to ask the doctor (even if you don't smoke) For the socker i don't know if beta crotene from the food can give probems.

But selenium can help in many situations but it's better to ask your doctor.

Have a nice evening

S

alain23 · February 2010

Yes,

by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">Regarding this subject, I read we must ask oncologist. And ask as soon as possible in order to have the best by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">nutrition as soon as possible. If there is a impact on survival it would be a shame to wait too long.

And it's very important to collaborate (and ask of course) with a registered dietician who knows well oncology (1) and who abolutley has to collaborate with your oncologist. I read it's the best way that your body gets all the nutriments he needs without problems. I also read your medical team will also make analysis to know if your body has the good amount of nutriments. And I read studies that showed an increased survival.

Here is the complete version regarding this subject. (Sorry for my English this is not my native language ;-))

by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">Nutrition is very important for cancer patients and many studies show an improvement of many factors (quality of life, immune system, SURVIVAL) thanks to the help of a registered dietitian for cancer patients. (1).

Of course this registered dietitian has to know well oncology and to collaborate with you oncologist . (you must also tell your team about the treatments for other illnesses than cancer you're taking on the same time)

It's highly advised to collaborate with the dietitian right after the diagnosis.

He will help you, for instance, for the following situation :

- He can help us before during and after the treatment .Thanks to his advises you will also be able to eat healthy on the long time going after the end of the treatment, what is also important.

- Your team will also make sure your body gets all the nutriments he needs, also by making analysis, according to what I read. This is important because studies showed that that a correct amount of nutrients in the body increases survival and decreases relapse. For instance there is by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">a relationship between a correct amount of selenium in the body and cancer rate. Ask them how to get the good levels of nutrients (and selenium) during all the time (before, during and on the long term going after the treatment) without problems (2)

- I ALSO READ IT IS IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN A CORRECT by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">VITAMIN D LEVEL IN YOUR BODY (neither too high nor too low) DURING AND AFTER by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">THERAPY (ALSO TO INCREASE SURVIVAL). ASK YOUR TEAM TO ANALYSE YOUR by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">VITAMIN D LEVELS AND HOW TO MAINTAIN THE GOOD LEVEL. Also ask which other nutrients it's important to analyze. It is also important to have a correct amount of vitamin D on the long term going after the therapy. Discuss with your team how to maintain this level and to make analyses regularly.

But I also read it's not good to have a too high level in your body that's why we need professional coounselling

I read that certain nutrients are easier to analyze than other. For instance Selenium can be analyzed in the blood, in the hairs and in the by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">nails.

Speaking about alimentation, I read interesting studies regarding cruciferous vegetables (like brocolis, Brussel by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">sprouts, and so on), and cancer. In these studies, they show the following effects (thanks to isothiocyanates and other substances) :

- Decreasing cancer rate (also for people who has no cancer = prevention)

- Increasing survival amoung cancer patients (62% in a study)

- In some studies, cruciferous vegetables increases the efficacy of chemotherapy

Cruciferous vegetables were more effective than many other foodstufs in these studies.

Here is something very important I also read these vegetables are much more efficient if we add other foodstufs that have interesting properties like ),brocoli by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">sprouts, radish because it hels to cross the intestinal by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">barrier.

This is very important to add these foods to cruciferous vegetables because with this simple method whe make sure to have an efficient action for all the body (thanks to the fact that it helps to cross the intestinal barrier)

Brocoli sprouts contains 50 times more isothiocyianates than broccoli.

And of course, if our imune system is weak, I read there are some precautions to take (for instance cooking the foods that could give infections if consumed raw). I don't know what is the best way to cook the vegetables in order to preserve the most their properties and to kill the bacteries. I have been told we have to avoid to put the food in contact with plastic pieces during the cooking because it can put toxical substances in it. Finally I also read taht once the imune sistem is ok again, the situation is different. Some foods have more anticancer properties if eaten raw, some other cooked (but we must avoid cookind methods that destroy the anticancer properties of the food). And for some it is advised to consume them both raw and cooked because each one has its advantages.

WE MUST ALSO AVOID TO BUY THESE VEGETABLES DEEP FROZEN BECAUSE THEY ALSO LOOSE THEIR PROPERTIES (the industrial process to deep-froze them make them loose a great part of their properties).

In the studies I read it's very efficient from a certain amount of servings a week incuded in a healthy and by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">balanced by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">nutrition.

If you take blood thinning medications like warfarin, ask your medical team how to consume cruciferous vegetables because they by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">contain by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">vitamin K that change (decrease) the effectiveness of these drugs. Also ask about other foodstufs that contains by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">vitamin K. But I don't mean to say that people who take blood thinning medications must avoid cruciferous vegetables, just that they have to ask their medical team how to consume them. Ask as soon as possible in order to take advantage of these vegetables as soon as possible. It would be a shame to wait if there is a positive effect regarding survival.

And of course if you are pregnant or breastfeeding I read you have to ask your doctor which food you must avoid (for instance horseradish must be avoided during pregnancy and lactation. I also read wasabi must be avoided but anyway we can't eat sushis or food like that durang pregancy and breast feeding. I know, this is a totaly different subject that has nothing to do with the subject of my by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">present message but my sister is pregnant, that's why I know this. And this was an opportunity to share good news

Ok, I am not a doctor but I wanted to talk about a subject that I find interesting.

Have a nice day

(1) Ask your oncologist to advise you a good registered dietitan that knows well oncology and insist because it can help by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">regarding survival and quality of life. I also read that your oncologist and your reg dietitian have to collaborate together. It's important because studies showed that the collaboration with a registered dietitian (before, during, and after the treatment = all your life ) increased survival and quality of life. It's important to collaborate with the reg dietitian right after the diagnosis.

The name of this kind of specialist can vary from a country to another, that's why it's good to ask your oncologist the name of the most efficient kind of by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">nutrition specialist for your situation

(2) Oncology is very complicated and nothing is white or black. I read studies that say we have to maintain good level of selenium because it reduces side effects and even increase efficiency of some treatments. But another in vitro study show that a compound that by Internet Speed Checker" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">contains selenium named Ebselen reduces slightly the efficiency bloeomycin. Ok this is one particular case of interaction and it doesn't mean at all that we don't' have to maintain a good level of nutrients (and selenium) in our by Internet Speed Checker" in_hover="" in_hdr="" style="border: none !important; display: inline-block !important; text-indent: 0px !important; float: none !important; font-weight: bold !important; height: auto !important; margin: 0px !important; min-height: 0px !important; min-width: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important; text-transform: uppercase !important; text-decoration: underline !important; vertical-align: baseline !important; width: auto !important; background: transparent !important;">bodies. As I said nothing is black or white in oncology and we have to ask our oncologist and registered dietitian how to get the correct amount of selenium without having problems.

alain23 · February 2010

Hi,

If your oncologist and your dietician tel you to take selenium complements, or anoy other complement make sur there is nothing that can interfere with the treatment in the composition.

alain23 · February 2010

Hi,

It's me again. A inform myself about this passionating subject and it seems very controversy.

Some mega doses of vitamins (eventually intravenous) has showed good results against cancer but it was with medical prescription and supervision

BUT THE MAXIMAL DOSIS OF SELENIUM IN ALL CASES IS 200 MICROGRAMS

But for low doses of vitamins (what you get form pills bought in stores) some scientist says that it could protect cancer cells and decrease the efficiency of conventional therapies (but high doses could destroy cancer cells, what is surprising) . And I read that for low doses it could be better to take these nutriments with natural healthy food.

If you want to decrease the side effects of chemotherapy there are also other methods : special diets, antiemmetics, ... Also for that ask your doctor

I don't know I am not a doctor and you should ask yours before doing anything.

Best regards

Sit

alain23 · February 2010

For selenium, It's maybe different from vitamins.

I don't know if it can help or not. I am not a doctor.

Ask your doctor.

Maybe its better to take it from healthy food. But also ask your doctor about changing of diets.

Have a nice day

Sit

alain23 · February 2010

The maximal dose of selenium is 200 MICROgrams a day

Merilee · February 2010

You can get all the selenium you need by eating two brazil nuts a day

alain23 · February 2010

Hi Merilee,

Thanks for the info. interesting Laughing

But as always it's better to ask your doctor, also for the changing of diet.

Have a nice day

luv_gardening · February 2010

Wow, Alain, you must have a brilliant and knowledgeable Doctor.

Our local Dr failed to recognise my husband's burst appendix and sent him home with a diagnosis of gastric flu several times till 10 days after his first visit. Just as well the infection formed an abscess with no peritonitis or he'd be dead.

Then there was the trip to ER with chest pains when he was sent home with a misdiagnosis of heartburn when he's never had it before. They had misread the ECG. Again it was 10 days later when they admitted him with a mild heart attack which required a stent two days later after an emergency hospital transfer when hubby started deteriorating.

My youngest son was told by several Dr's that there was no such thing as Chronic fatigue and said he just didn't want to go to school. This despite my insistence that he was sicker during the long school summer break. What teenager wants to sit at home and not see his friends or go out at all? But they were deaf to it, mothers apparently know nothing. Thankfully the pediatrician was familiar with chronic fatigue so they didn't make him go to school though there is no treatment or cure and three years later he is in remission and going to art college.

My sister was admitted to hospital in the UK with extreme abdominal pain and said she thought she might be pregnant and have an ectopic pregnancy. They decided it was pelvic inflammatory disease and only on the third day when she was drifting in and out of consciousness did they operate and found she was right. With an ectopic pregnancy she could have died on day two.

So many times I've visited a lovely and well meaning Dr in the practice where they have my records on a card system and on computer and they don't even know I've had cancer in the last 6 months. Ah, so that's why you're wearing a scarf or wig... Most don't know anything about nutrition beyond the basics. I couldn't begin to type out all the minor errors which they persisted with when I pointed out the problem.

They are too busy due to the system which doesn't give them time to read patient files or take the time over a diagnosis or treatment options or to follow the latest research about nutrition. There's a lot of stress as they see their long term patients deteriorate and die. They see the painful side of illnesses that we mostly hide away from the public. They hear the sad tales of depression and disability and feel helpless when medicine is not able to help in so many cases. So many Dr's are addicted to many different drugs due to the stress.

I do understand but I also know from studies that patients who take control of their own health and nutrition have much better outcomes and less depression.

I'm lucky to have a lovely oncologist but I won't press the nutrition side of things till I feel she respects my opinion and knowledge. So far she has passed all my minor tests such as vitamin D requirements and knowing I used mushrooms and grape seed extract as natural aromatase inhibitors prior to being put on arimidex and has proven herself worthy of my further disclosure when I feel comfortable enough.

Take care and always double check your doctor's advice and treatment.

Selenium

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