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SELENIUM & BREAST CANCER

Although several human studies have shown that Se supplementation has a stronger anti-cancer effect in men than in women, and cohort studies have generally not found an association between Se status and risk of breast cancer (Waters et al, 2004), Se is nevertheless conceptually/plausibly protective against breast cancer, and there is substantial evidence from laboratory and animal trials.  Some of these studies have found a particularly strong anti-breast cancer effect.  For example, when mice bred for breast cancer susceptibility were supplemented with 2 ppm of sodium selenite in drinking water for 15 months, the incidence of spontaneous mammary tumours was just 10%, compared to 82% in control mice (Schrauzer & Ishmael, 1974).

Human case-control studies include these findings:  women with breast cancer had 20% lower Se status than their matched healthy controls and controls with non-cancer chronic diseases (Lopez-Saez et al, 2003). Women with breast cancer had lower serum Se (mean of 50 µg/l) than women with fibrocystic disease (72 µg/l) or healthy women (81 µg/l) (Krsnjavi & Beker, 1990).

Most animal and laboratory studies have found selenite to be the most effective Se form against breast cancer cells; however synthetic organoselenium compounds such as 1,4-phenylenebis (methylene) selenocyanate (p-XSC) has been the most effective form in the DMBA-rat mammary tumour model.  It appears that several mechanisms are involved: inhibition of adduct formation at the initiation stage of carcinogenesis; inhibition of cell proliferation; and induction of apoptosis (El-Bayoumy & Sinha, 2004).  In addition, inhibition of angiogenesis (blood vessel formation) in animal mammary tumour studies was found for Se in three forms: Se-enriched garlic, sodium selenite, and Se-methylselenocysteine.  Selenite was the most effective form (Jiang etal, 1999).

The strongest evidence for a Se anti-breast cancer effect in humans comes from a recent study in Poland which found a strong effect of Se in reducing DNA damage (a probable cancer precursor) in women who are genetically at high risk of the disease (Kowalska et al, 2005).  Women who have mutations of the BRCA1 gene have greatly increased risks of breast and ovarian cancers.  The product of this gene is involved in DNA repair, and DNA damage is an early risk factor for cancer.  Women with the BRCA1 gene mutation (n=55) were supplemented with 275 µg Se/day as sodium selenite for around two months.  Cultured blood lymphocytes were assessed for DNA damage at baseline and then at conclusion of the study.  As a control, relatives of these women, but who were not carriers of the aberrant gene, were tested as well.  The mean number of chromosome breaks per cell at baseline was 0.63 for the BRCA1 mutation women, and 0.39 for the controls.  After Se supplementation, the mean breaks for the BRCA1 women had declined to 0.40, i.e. normal level (Kowalska et al, 2005). [link to www.cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/full/14/5/1302]

Although this was not a large study, the result was statistically highly significant, and suggests that Se supplementation could reduce breast cancer risk in women with the BRCA1 mutation.  This may also be the case for other mutations which confer increased risk of breast cancer, but more intervention trials such as this are required.

References

El-Bayoumy K, Sinha R 2004. Mechanisms of mammary cancer chemoprevention by organoselenium compounds. Mutat Res 551(1-2): 181-197.

Jiang C, Jiang W, Ip C, Ganther H, Lu J 2000. Selenium-induced inhibition of angiogenesis in mammary cancer at chemopreventive levels of intake. Mol Carcinogenesis 26: 213-225.

Kowalska E, Narod SA, Huzarski T, Zajaczek S, Huzarska J, Gorski B, Lubinski J 2005. Increased rates of chromosome breakage in BRCA1 carriers are normalized by oral selenium supplementation. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 14(5): 1302-1306.

Krsnjavi H, Beker D 1990. Selenium in serum as a possible parameter for assessment of breast disease. Breast Cancer Res Treat 16: 57-61.

Lopez-Saez JB, Senra-Varela A, Pousa-Estevez L 2003. Selenium in breast cancer. Oncology 64(3): 227-231.

Schrauzer GN, Ishmael D 1074. Effects of selenium and of arsenic on the genesis of spontaneous mammary tumors in inbred C3H mice. Ann Clin Lab Sci 4(6): 441-447.

Waters DJ, Chiang, Cooley DM, Morris JS 2004. Making sense of sex and supplements: differences in the anticarcinogenic effects of selenium in men and women. Mut Res 551(1-2): 91-107.

Nutritional supplementation protocol for prevention & control of breast cancer

by G Lyons  B Agric Sci  MPH  PhD

All of the components of this program are backed by solid evidence, and are best taken in combination, as a number of them are synergistic, i.e. they enhance each other’s effects.  For patients undergoing chemotherapy/radiotherapy, higher doses of some components (Se, vit E, vit C, green tea, soy, resveratrol) are recommended.  Studies show that certain nutritional/herbal supplements have the dual effect of reducing the side-effects of chemotherapy and enhancing its anti-cancer effect. NB: For women with breast cancer, this protocol is recommended in addition to standard treatment recommended by your doctors, not as a substitute.

• Selenium. Recommended dose 200 micrograms/day. Sodium selenite is the Se form with most evidence for anti-breast cancer effect.
• Green tea polyphenols. Strong evidence against breast cancer in animal trials and human epidemiological studies. Synergistic with selenium and soy polyphenols.
• Soy (or Red clover) polyphenols (especially genistein) 50 mg/d (e.g. Blackmore’s Phytolife Plus, around 3 tablets/d).
• Omega-3 fatty acids, e.g. fish oil capsules, 1000 mg/d.
• Vitamin C. In the form of calcium (or sodium) ascorbate, which is non-acidic.  One heaped teaspoon is around 5 grams. Take 5g/day, possibly split into two doses (as too much at once can cause diarrhoea!), and at a different time to the selenite, as it can reduce uptake of selenite.  Vitamin C, despite what many doctors and nutritionists say, is useful against a range of serious conditions, but only at multi-gram doses.  Also synergistic with vit E.
• Tomato paste (for the red carotenoid, Lycopene). Take one heaped dessertspoon/day. NB Lycopene is much more bioavailable from processed tomato products than from fresh tomato.
• Coenzyme Q10, available in capsules, for mitochondrial support. Suggest 50-100 mg/day.  One study reported spectacular success in arresting advanced breast cancer, using 350 mg/day for 12 months.  Can be expensive: the best value is on the Internet.
• Grape seed extract (for Resveratrol). This is a much more concentrated form than occurs in red wine!
• Low-dose aspirin (around 1/3 Disprin/day, or the low-dose coated form, “Cartia”).  Alternatively, include plenty of thyme (high salicylate concentration) in your diet.
• B-vitamins, especially folate. Take at around double the recommended dose. A VG product is “Super B50” from Australian Naturalcare Products in Sydney, who would also have several other items on this list (vitamin E, magnesium).  Ph. 1800 505 355.
• Blackcurrant seed oil or Evening primrose oil (for gamma-linolenic acid).
• Regular exercise: 30-45 minutes of vigorous exercise per day (eg tennis, running, fast walking, exercise bike).  Try to get heart rate up to the range of 130-150 beats per minute, but build up gradually to this.  Some light weightlifting is also recommended, not only to improve muscle strength but also to ward off osteoporosis.
• Good, varied diet, including: cooking with olive oil, drinking soy milk and eating broccoli, beetroot (including the skin, the best part), carrots, onions, garlic, apples, berries, nuts, fish, whole grains. Also, dark chocolate is excellent!  Limit your intake of red meat and dairy products.  Can drink a glass or two of wine (preferably red) or beer a day.

As you’re probably feeling overloaded by now, the following are optional:

Watercress extract (for phenethyl isothiocyanate)

Phytic acid (myo-inositol hexaphosphate, also known as IP6)

Whey protein (for glutathione precursors)

Pomegranate extract

Isatis extract ( a herb with immune-enhancing and anti-COX 2 and anti-lipoxygenase properties)

European mistletoe extract (Viscum album)

Linseed/flaxseed

In addition, for menopausal/post-menopausal women:

Preparations that contain Black Cohosh and Soy (or Red clover) polyphenols.

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), a steroid hormone precursor (harmless), that decreases with age. Try the Internet.

There is no need to take prescribed hormone replacement therapy (which can have detrimental side-effects) if these natural supplements are used together with the diet and exercise regime noted above.  Moreover, if you are eating a varied diet which includes leafy vegetables, whole grains, nuts, etc, not smoking or drinking to excess, and exercising, you should not (contrary to popular opinion and much professional advice) require supplementary calcium.  Better to take magnesium, around 350 mg/d.

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Laucke Flour Mills Pty Ltd
Strathalbyn, South Australia
Bridgewater on Loddon, Victoria
2 Callington Rd Strathalbyn SA 5255
PO Box 200 Strathalbyn SA 5255
E-mail: bread@laucke.com.au
Phone: (08) 8536 5555
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