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CAN DIET HELP WITH HIV, CANCER AND INFERTILITY? Lancet Review Examines the Importance of Selenium to Human Health

July 13, 2000

GPs and health professionals will learn from a report to be published in the Lancet on 15 July that the effect of including selenium in a daily diet, is more wide ranging in its health aspects than was ever suspected.

In the first such review of selenium in a prestigious medical journal, the author of the report, Dr Margaret Rayman of the University of Surrey, refers to over 80 research projects from around the world. These show that the vital role of selenium in human health ranges from slowing down the progression of HIV to Aids, to improving fertility in men and women; from enhancing people’s mood to reducing the risk of cancer, the latter being an area of Rayman’s own research.

Selenium, a trace mineral, which occurs naturally in the soil and can be found in brazil nuts, offal, grain, fish and meat, has been found to have other benefits which include positive effects on viral infections, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, and thyroid function. Selenium therefore may provide a low cost answer to preventing a number of diseases but the low or diminishing selenium levels in some countries is giving cause for concern.

On being asked about why she had decided to write a review, Dr Rayman replied: “There are three main reasons. First, to provide GPs and healthcare professionals with reliable information which could be used in treating patients and setting up healthcare programmes. Second, to raise concern that the levels of selenium are low in the UK and parts of Europe.
                                                
Third, to call for further research to clarify the optimal nutritional level with respect to selenium.”

Dr Rayman explained that if, for example, there was further research to examine whether selenium as a nutrient could be helpful in slowing the progression of HIV to Aids, then it might provide a low cost solution in African countries particularly affected by HIV. The research so far had been carried out in the United States by Mariana Baum and colleagues of the University of Miami who found that HIV positive individuals have a twenty times greater chance of dying from Aids than those with adequate selenium levels.

The Cancer Research Campaign is currently funding a £160,000 pilot study, which started in October 1999 led by Dr Rayman, and involves 500 people in the UK to see whether selenium can provide protection against cancer. This comes after an American study which showed encouraging health benefits for people who increased their daily intake of selenium.

Dr Rayman said: “I am currently trying to raise £3.5m in funding to carry out a main UK study involving 10,000 people, when the pilot research finishes at the end of next year. It is essential to get sponsorship as scientific research is the only way to get positive proof of the health benefits of selenium. If a positive effect of selenium on cancer risk were to be established, the Government might then decide to act by adding selenium to the food supply. However, research is also needed to discover the optimal nutritional level with respect to selenium, because if people consume too much then it can become toxic”.

Besides Britain, Sweden and Denmark are also taking part in the trial because of low dietary selenium. The US who are also participating in the study, have moderate selenium levels. The difference in countries’ selenium levels depends on the amount of selenium present in the soil and which fertilisers are used.

Finland has artificially added selenium to its fertilisers since 1984 to raise levels because of the reputed health benefit. In contrast, selenium levels in the UK have declined significantly over the last few decades – probably because we are no longer importing selenium-rich wheat from North America for use in our bread.

Media Enquiries: Jacqui Spiers, University Press Office, tel. 01483 879314 or Dr Margaret Rayman who is available by phone as follows:
Wednesday 12 July: Until 3.00pm tel. 01483 876447. After 8.00pm tel. 07712 183401
13 & 14 July: Free except between 11.00am and 2.00pm on 13 July. Tel. 07712 183401
From evening of 14 July, onwards: 01483 562882.




Surrey, University of