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1. More selenium could slash bladder cancer risk, says study 27/9/2006
Increasing the daily intake of selenium from dietary and supplementary sources, could cut the risk of bladder cancer by 70 per cent, suggests a new study from Belgium.

Continued coverage of positive results, like the new study published in the International Journal of Urology (Vol. 13, pp. 1180-1184), could help further increase public awareness of a mineral already associated with reducing the risk of prostate and lung cancer, as well as boosting the immune system.

The European market for selenium supplements is estimated to be worth around €40m. This suggests that there is potential for food makers if they can improve consumer understanding of the mineral's benefits, with selenium-enriched products largely ignored by companies, unlike the supplements where a significant number of selenium products are available, both in combination with other nutrients and alone.

The authors, led by Eliane Kellen from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, carried out a population case-control study with 178 cases and 362 controls. Blood samples were taken to assess serum selenium concentrations.

After accounting for sex, age, smoking and occupational exposure, the researchers calculated that the risk of bladder cancer was slashed by 70 per cent for those people with blood levels of more than 96 micrograms per litre, compared to those with serum levels of less than 82.4 micrograms per litre.

Serum selenium levels between 82.4 and 96 micrograms per litre were associated with a 52 per cent risk reduction in bladder cancer risk.

Every 10 micrograms per litre increase in serum selenium levels was associated with a 14 per cent reduction in the risk of bladder cancer, a cancer that is diagnosed in about 336,000 people every year worldwide, and that is three times more likely to affect men than women, according to the European School of Oncology.

“This case-control study suggests an inverse association between serum selenium concentration and bladder cancer risk,” concluded the researchers.

The study has a number of limitations, particularly being based on case and controls, and dietary consumption of selenium containing foods or supplements may have changed on diagnosis of the bladder cancer. Also, since the study was epidemiological no direct mechanistic study was conducted.

Significant further research is required, including more epidemiological studies and randomised controlled trials in humans, to further confirm these results, as well as investigating the underlying mechanism of how selenium appears to offer protection.

European selenium levels have been falling since the EU imposed levies on wheat imports from the US, where soil selenium levels are high. As a result, average intake of selenium in the UK has fallen from 60 to 34 micrograms per day. Leading to calls from some to enrich soil and fertilizers with selenium to boost public consumption.

The European recommended daily intake (RDI) is 65 micrograms.

Source: Staff Writer, via
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=70837&m=1NIU927&c=xhmtffoabuqnnyt

2. Antioxidants could help healthy ageing 23/8/2006

Antioxidant supplements – myth or misunderstood? New Scientist slams antioxidant supplement benefits as 'myth' Antioxidant-rich almonds on a par with fruit and vegetables CoQ10 uses and awareness in Europe and the US Antioxidant-rich soy sauce could protect against CVD

Consuming antioxidant-enriched foods on a regular basis could improve immune function, and might ultimately help people live longer, if the results of a new animal study also apply to humans.

The study, by researchers from the Complutense University of Madrid and Danone Vitapole, reports that prematurely ageing mice eating an antioxidant-enriched biscuit in addition to a normal diet had improved immune system function.

“In the present study, ingestion of a diet supplemented with two different doses, five per cent and 20 per cent, of biscuits enriched with nutritional amounts of several antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, zinc, and selenium improved the investigated immune functions in non-prematurely ageing mice (NPAM) and especially in prematurely ageing mice (PAM),” wrote lead author Carmen Alvarado in the journal Nutrition (Vol. 22, pp. 767-777).

As the human body ages, its ability to fight infection decreases, leading to an increased risk of infectious and degenerative diseases and ultimately affecting lifespan.

White blood cells (leukocytes) help the body to fight infection and between four and 11 billion cells is indicative of a healthy immune system. However, the function of white blood cells is reported to be strongly influenced by the antioxidant/oxidant balance, and ageing results in higher levels of so-called oxidative stress.

As part of their normal function, leukocytes produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and, therefore, maintaining antioxidant levels of these cells is very important to sustain a healthy immune system.

While some data are available in the literature for antioxidants on markers for ageing, the researchers said that very limited data are available on the effect of supplementation of the diet with mixtures of antioxidants.

To test their hypothesis that antioxidant supplementation can improve the oxidative stress levels experienced by leukocytes by ageing, the researchers randomly divided NPAM and PAM into control and experimental (supplemented groups). The experimental groups were supplemented with either five or 20 per cent of antioxidant-enriched biscuits (Danone Vitapole). The biscuits are commercially available to consumers.

After 15 weeks of eating these diets, Alvarado and her colleagues measured leukocyte functions (such as chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and natural killer activity, lymphoproliferation and interleukin-2 release), antioxidant defences, and lipid and DNA oxidative damage levels.

It was found that the effect of antioxidants was more pronounced in the PAM than the NPAM group, and that 20 per cent supplementation was better than five per cent.

When comparing the PAM control group and the two PAM supplemented groups, the researchers found that addition of the antioxidant-enriched biscuits to the diet of the mice was associated with significantly improved activity of the immune system.

The authors note that all the antioxidants used in the biscuits have previously been shown to have enhancing effects on different immune system function in both animals and humans.

“Because the immune function is a marker of health and several of the immune parameters studied are predictors of longevity, our data strongly indicate, on the one hand, the importance of maintaining a proper regulation of redox homeostasis in immune cells to preserve their functions and, on the other hand, that the biscuits enriched with nutritional doses of several antioxidants used in the present work appear to be a functional food that allows improvement of leukocyte function through restoration of the redox balance of these cells,” concluded Alvarado.

Source:
http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=69972&m=1NIE821&c=xhmtffoabuqnnyt
 

2. A Nutritional Supplement Formula for Influenza A (H5N1) Infection in Humans
    Article In Press (Medical Hypothesis 2006).
  
    Source: http://intl.elsevierhealth.com/journals/mehy

3. Selenium Research Gathers Momentum 04/05/2006

Selenium has been linked to protection from cancers of both the prostate and lung, as well as immune system health. Many questions remain and numerous clinical trials are seeking to provide answers.

The vast majority of trials are investigating the mineral in cancer applications, particularly prostate cancer. The results of the multi-centre, US-based Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT), are being eagerly awaited by many in both academic and industrial circles. However, the trial is not due for completion until the summer of 2013.

In total, four studies are looking at the role of selenium for prevention or inhibition of prostate cancer, and a further five studies are investigating other cancers.

Source: http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=67480&m=1NIE504&c=xhmtffoabuqnnyt

By Stephen Daniells

4.    The supplements - bird flu debate: selenium

Following last week’s claims and counter claims that dietary supplements may offer protection from avian flu, Stephen Daniells looks into statements that selenium supplements may offer protection. (27/02/2006)

Many novel virus have been found in selenium deficient populations, with experts suggesting that relatively harmless viruses can mutate into deadly versions on passing through a selenium deficient host.

This has led some to propose that selenium supplements may offer some kind of protection from the world's newest threat – avian ‘flu.

Consumers seem to be taking notice of such reports, with some companies reporting increased sales in light of increased press coverage.

Rita Stoffaneller, senior nutritionist and registrations manager with Wassen International Ltd who offer a range of selenium products, told NutraIngredients.com: “Consumers are increasingly aware of the role of selenium and immune protection. Recent press articles have generated a sales increase of more than 60% across the range in the UK in the last 2 weeks.”

The link between selenium and immune system health is backed up by a growing body of science.

Researchers from the University of North Carolina, and the US Department of Agriculture reported that selenium deficient mice infected with a mild strain of influenza developed severe lung infections. When the researchers recovered the virus from the mice, they found an increased number of viral mutations, “resulting in a more virulent phenotype.” (Trends in Microbiology, 2004, Vol. 12, pp. 417-423).

“Wide-spread nutritional deficiencies occur in many developing countries, which are frequently the site of emergence of new viral diseases as well as old viral diseases with new pathogenic properties,” wrote the researcher.

The increased occurrence of mutated viruses in selenium-deficient individuals has been linked to the antioxidant nature of the mineral. Selenium is included into about 25 selenoproteins, five of which are powerful antioxidant enzymes.

If the host's antioxidant defences are weakened, then the virus is exposed to greater oxidative stress, and thus a greater chance of viral mutations.

Not only have low selenium levels been linked to higher virus mutations, but also to a reduction in the efficiency of the immune system. Selenium deficiency has been linked to reduced T-lymphocyte activity and reduced antibody production.

Dr Margaret Rayman of the Centre of Food Safety and Nutrition at Surrey University has published several articles on the immune boosting activities of selenium (Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2002, Vol. 61,pp. 203-215).

“Taking a selenium supplement may make a difference to a person with low selenium status and may help them deal more quickly and effectively with a viral infection. This could reduce their chances of becoming seriously ill,” said Rayman.

It would be incorrect and irresponsible to suggest that increasing the selenium intake of populations will eradicate the threat of H5N1. However, like vitamin C and zinc, the mineral could boost the body's natural defences, a view shared by Wassens.

European selenium levels have been falling since the EU imposed levies on wheat imports from the US, where soil selenium levels are high. As a result, average intake of selenium in the UK has fallen from 60 to 34 micrograms per day.

The European recommended daily intake (RDI) is 65 micrograms.

The current market for selenium supplements in Europe is estimated to be worth around €40 million.
Source: http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=66089&m=1NIU227&c=xhmtffoabuqnnyt

5.  Cystic fibrosis patients have much lower selenium status.  Supplementation warranted.

A German study has found that Se concentration in blood serum of 31 cystic fibrosis patients was only 58 58 mg/l, compared with controls with 102 mg/l (Michalke B 2004. Selenium speciation in human serum of cystic fibrosis patients compared to serum from healthy persons. J Chromatogr 1058(1-2): 203-208).  Cystic fibrosis is known to involve high levels of oxidative stress.  This may be able to be alleviated by Se supplementation.


6.  Selenium and vitamin E are required for host protection against intestinal worm parasites.

This US study using mice suggests that both Se and vitamin E are required for specific interleukin-4-related changes in intestinal physiology that promote host protection (by expelling the parasite) against the gastrointestinal nematode parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus.

(Smith A, Madden KB, Yeung KJ, Zhao A, Elfrey J, Finkelman F, Levander O, Shea-Donohue T, Urban JF 2005. Deficiencies in selenium and/or vitamin E lower the resistance of mice to Heligmosomoides polygyrus infections. J Nutr 135(4): 830-834).


7.  Eating wholegrains can cut your risk of heart disease and stroke by 20-40%.

Researchers from the CSIRO (Australia) reviewed previous research from around the world, and found that people who eat wholegrain foods regularly can have a 20-40% lower risk of heart disease and stroke compared with those who rarely eat wholegrain foods.  The findings show that wholegrains have a greater benefit than other foods commonly promoted for heart health.  “The benefit of up to 40% reduction in risk from increasing wholegrain intake to around four servings a day is comparable to the effect we get from the powerful statin drugs doctors now prescribe to lower cholesterol levels,” said author Dr Peter Clifton from the CSIRO Division of Health Sciences & Nutrition in Adelaide.  A serving is equivalent to two slices of bread or a cup of cooked porridge.  There are currently 150 million prescriptions written each year in the USA and Canada for cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, making them the single largest expenditure for pharmaceuticals.

Their findings, which have been submitted for publication in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, were unable to pinpoint the component of wholegrain foods thought to produce the benefit.  The researchers said a number of different components – such as fibre, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals such as selenium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese and magnesium – acting together could be responsible.  Wholegrain cereals have been found to be at least as high in antioxidants as most fruits and vegetables.
 

8. Bio-Fort Selenium: Officially Launched by Laucke Flour Mills Pty Ltd

    Bio-Fort Selenium was officially launched on the 22nd of September, 2005.
   
    Media Release: September 2005 [PDF, 210kb]

    Further Information:
    Bio-Fort: Understanding Bio-Fortification
    Selenium: Nature's Super Mineral
    Revolutionary New Functional Food Products: Bio-Fort Products
 

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E-mail: bread@laucke.com.au
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