Research suggests that selenium can protect humans against cancer of the lung, ovaries, breast, colon, liver, cervix, skin, stomach and uterus. When sufficient selenium levels are achieved, the risk of getting cancer is half that of a person who is selenium deficient.
Selenium deficiency produces changes in several metabolic functions, including the immune system.
Lymphocyte that are deficient in selenium are less able to proliferate in response to a challenge and macrophages are also impacted when selenium levels are too low.
Immune system enhancement by selenium is a more satisfactory explanation for the carcinostatic properties of selenium.
Selenium is essential for optimal immune function, and stimulations of the immune system can be brought about by selenium supplementation.
As an immune supportive mineral, selenium stimulates the development and function of all types of white blood cells and enhances the ability of lymphocytes and NK cells, or killer cells, to activate and respond to invaders such as bacteria and viruses, including the flu.
Selenium works synergistically with Vitamin E, A and C as an antioxidant. Stimulations with both vitamin E and selenium is believed to enhance all aspects of the immune system, though stimulation of interleukins and other associated T-cell genes.
Selenium supplementation reduces the incidence of hepatitis in deficient populations. In a population of elderly people that was not deficient in selenium, selenium supplementation has been found to stimulate the activity of white blood cells-primarily components of the immune system.
In addition, Selenium binds with many toxic minerals such as arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury and facilitates their excretion from the body. By detoxifying per oxidized fats, via its role in the enzyme glutathione and peroxidase, selenium inhibits their carcinogenicity (cancer promoting traits). Selenium also counteracts many of the toxic effects of smoking tobacco.
Selenium and immune system
