Selenium reduces prostate cancer

Selenium is known as the anti cancer mineral and is an essential trace element involved in several key metabolic activities via enzymes that are essential to protect against free radical (oxidative) damage and to regulate the immune system. Selenium is an essential part of glutathione peroxidase, an enzyme found to remove one of the major free radicals, hydrogen peroxide.

A number of very large studies on selenium supplementation, such as those in China and Finland have found significant reductions in cancer rates. In support of this a study just last week found that supplementation with 200 micrograms of selenium glycinate for 6 weeks increase the activities of blood enzymes such as glutathione, and reduces the levels of PSA, prostate-specific antigen, a marker for prostate cancer. It was only a small study of 30 middle-aged US men but the authors of the study said “If selenium could lower PSA [prostate-specific antigen] in healthy, middle-aged men, then it could be proposed that selenium can lower prostate cancer risk in some men, especially as part of an overall dietary plan,” (Zhang et al 2011).

Other studies have shown that high levels of selenium in the body have been linked with lower levels of lung, prostate and colorectal cancers. Selenium is thought to reduce the risk of developing cancers in two ways. Firstly, as selenium is an anti¬oxidant it helps protect the body from dangerous free radicals. Secondly, selenium has been known to prevent or slow down tumour growth. It does this in such a way that selenium enhances immune cell activity and suppresses the development of the blood vessel leading to the tumour resulting in reduced or no cancer growth. Studies have also shown that people with low levels of selenium have a greater incident of heart disease.

Good sources of selenium in the diet are whole grains, asparagus, garlic, eggs, mushrooms, lean meats and seafood's but the best known source is brazil nuts.

Zhang. W, E. Joseph, C. Hitchcock, R.A. DiSilvestro. 2011. Selenium glycinate supplementation increases blood glutathione peroxidase activities and decreases prostate-specific antigen readings in middle-aged US men. Nutrition Research, doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2010.10.012

Nutrition science and the common Cold

Time to go back to some basics and take a few supplements when the next cold (flu) comes around. Here is the latest update from the Cochrane review.

In a major study of 13 therapeutic trials and two preventative trials with almost 1400 participants Zinc supplements significantly reduced the severity of cold symptoms, as well as the length of illness (Singh and Das, 2010). They reported a significant difference between the zinc and control group for the proportion of participants symptomatic after seven days of treatment . The authors concluded that zinc administered within 24 hours of onset of symptoms reduces the duration and severity of the common cold in healthy people. When supplemented for at least five months, it reduces cold incidence, school absenteeism and prescription of antibiotics in children. One of the actions of zinc is to inhibit rhinoviral replication and has been tested in trials for treatment of the common cold.

In a review of studies on Vitamin C (Hemilä 2007) the researchers found it useful for people exposed to brief periods of severe physical exercise. In five trials with participants exposed to short periods of extreme physical stress (including marathon runners and skiers) vitamin C halved the common cold risk.

In a review of 16 controlled clinical trials (Linde et al 2006) investigating the effectiveness of Echinacea preparations (a herb) for preventing and treating common colds, the researchers found taking Echinacea preparations after the onset of cold symptoms shortens the duration or decreases the severity of symptoms when compared with a placebo.

In summary when you get the flu take Zinc, Echinacea and if you are exercising take vitamin C. That is what the science shows so forget the flu vaccine with its very questionable benefits, high cost and serious side effects. Last year in the UK they spent more than 2 billion pound on the swine flu without a single reduction in symptoms or disease.
It should also be mentioned that vitamin C and zinc work hand in hand for lots of other things in the body including healthy skin and arteries. They have lots of positive side effects.

Hemilä H, Chalker E, Douglas B. Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD000980. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub3. Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group.

Linde K, Barrett B, Bauer R, Melchart D, Woelkart K. Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD000530. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD000530.pub2. : Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group

Singh M, Das RR. Zinc for the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2011, Issue 2. Art. No.: CD001364. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001364.pub3. Cochrane Acute Respiratory Infections Group.

Omega 3 Not Drugs For Diabetics

In a recent study by Dr Sapicha and her colleagues, building on their earlier research on the same topic, found that a simple and cheap supplement of omega 3 oils is effective in reducing "pathological retinal neovascularization". That is the damage done to the blood vessels which can lead to an array of complications culminating in blindness. It is a serious condition in diabetes. They reported that their studies on mice suggests "that _-3 PUFAs (omega 3s) may be profitably used as an alternative or supplement to current anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment for proliferative retinopathy and points to the therapeutic potential of _-3 PUFAs and metabolites in other diseases of vasoproliferation. She was quoted on ABC radio as saying that the drugs for diabetic retinopathy cost around $4000 a month or $10 for the omega 3 supplements.

This builds on a large amount of research on the benefits of omega 3 oils for both the prevention and treatment of diabetes. For those interested all the details of the study are provided below.

Sci Transl Med 9 February 2011: Vol. 3, Issue 69, p. 69ra12 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3001571.

Pregnancy and probiotics

A new study in the British Journal of Nutrition of July this year (2010. doi:10.1017/S0007114509993898), found that supplementing pregnant women with probiotics helps reduce the risk of diabetes during pregnancy, improve blood glucose control and improve child health. The women who took probiotics had gestational diabetes mellitus at a rate of 13 percent compared to 36 percent for the diet/placebo group and 34 percent for the control group. This is almost a 2/3rds reduction in gestational diabetes. This is such a cheap and effect intervention without any increased risk. It is thought that by reducing gestational diabetes it also reduces the risk of the mother developing diabetes later in life. The probiotic supplement was contained the bacteria Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG, Valio) and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12. These are big names but it helps scientists identify which ones are the most effective as not all probiotics are the same.

In an earlier study of 50 pregnant women published in the same journal in March 2010 (doi:10.1017/S0007114510000176) found those women who experienced excessive weight gain during pregnancy had more Escherichia coli bacteria in their gut, and fewer Bifidobacteria than women with normal weight gain during pregnancy. This builds on a growing body of evidence dating back to 2006 linking healthy gut flora to healthy weight maintenance. The study showed that overweight women had fewer Bifidobacterium and Bacteroides and more Staphylococcus, Enterobacteriaceae and E. coli than normal-weight women.


Raakel Luoto, Kirsi Laitinen, Merja Nermes and Erika Isolauri
Impact of maternal probiotic-supplemented dietary counselling on pregnancy outcome and prenatal and postnatal growth: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study
British Journal of Nutrition (2010) doi:10.1017/S0007114509993898

Source: British Journal of Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, First View article, doi:10.1017/S0007114510000176
“Gut microbiota composition is associated with body weight, weight gain and biochemical parameters in pregnant women”
Authors: A. Santacruz, M. C. Collado, L. García-Valdés, M. T. Segura, J. A. Martin-Lagos, T. Anjos, M. Martí-Romero, R. M. Lopez, J. Florido, C. Campoy, Y. Sanz

Helping each other can really help you

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine (October 19, 2010 vol. 153 no. 8 507-515) found that setting up peer support brought about significant improvements in health outcomes of diabetics. While the study was of 250 men in the U.S. Veterans Affairs health system who had poor diabetic control it really applies to anyone and any condition. Patients were randomized either to usual care with nurse management or to be paired up with another age-matched patient for mutual support. The patient pairs were encouraged to communicate regularly using a phone system that prompted weekly calls. After 6 months' follow-up, there was a significant improvement in the patient-pair group, versus a significant decline the nurse-care group. One continued to get worse under normal management while the other improved.

At a personal level I know of a lot of people working on reducing diabetes symptoms using the book by Gabriel Cousens “there is a cure for diabetes” and the ones having the most success are those who have extra support. It may be a family member, partner or just a friend. We also completed a study some years ago on personal coaching to improve health outcomes and found a significant improvement in health behaviour just as a result of one quick phone call or personal communication each week from the health coach. A little bit of help can make a lot of difference.

What does this mean for you? If you are interested in changing your health behaviour for the better get some regular support. Set your goals, link up with a few friends and set regular times to talk about what you are doing. Just a phone call each week may make the world of difference.

Reduce your heart attack without cholesterol lowering drugs

A recent Swedish study of 31671 woman found that multivitamin use was associated with a reduction in the rate of heart attack (myocardial infarction). This should have been front page news around the world but it did not seem to even get a look in. This is one of the dozens of studies that show a strong link with supplementation and health benefits. The study was broken into two groups. Women with a history of CVD and woman without any history of CVD. During the average of 10 years of follow-up the woman without any history of CVD and who took multivitamin supplements had a 27% in heart attacks over the period. That is better than any stain drug to lower cholesterol. The use of multivitamins over a 5 year period, that is, those who took them the longest, saw a reduction of 41%. Wow. This is so simple and so cheap. However in the CVD group use of multivitamins was not associated with any decrease in the rate of heart attack. So if you already had a heart attack low doses of multivitamins don’t appear to help at all. The levels were what you would find in a standard multivitamin supplement such as 400ug for folic acid. Perhaps it is my bias but the levels were probably so low for someone who already had a heart attack to make any difference. Better still make sure you don’t have a heart attack. (Am J Clin Nutr (September 22, 2010). doi:10.3945/ajcn.2010.29371)

Interestingly I have been doing a lot of reading on magnesium lately and there is a lot of research on the link between heart attack, atherosclerosis, angina and most other forms of CVD and low magnesium levels. That is low levels are associated with increased risks so if you want to lower your risk increase your magnesium. This may be obvious but the highest concentration of magnesium is in heart muscle and magnesium is essential for relaxing muscles. Magnesium also stops calcification of arteries and build up of plaque (no it is not all cholesterol, it is mostly calcium blocking your arteries). Another simple hint would be to have lots of water. It sounds simple but most of us don’t drink enough of it.

What amazes me as I read the volumes of research is why our medical system doesn’t tell us this.

Prebiotics help infants

Feeding infants with a prebiotic-enriched formula reduced the incidence of atopic dermatitis by 44 percent in a recent study released this week. This backs up a ground swell of studies highlighting the benefits of both prebiotic, probiotic and symbiotic fomulas to help with conditions such as allergy, eczema and infections particularly in bottle fed babies. Prebiotics are the foods that feed the healthy probiotics and synbiotics is when both prebiotics and probiotics are included together. Infants fed prebiotic formula had a significant reduction in the incidence of atopic dermatitis in children classified as being at low-risk, according to findings published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2010, Volume 126, Pages 791-797)
The microbial ecosystem of the GI tract, particularly the large intestine has multiple beneficial functions including immune system stimulation, barrier function (provide a barrier protection against pathogens), maintenance of gut nutrition and circulation, production of nutrients and stimulation of bowel movements. It is essential that the ‘balance’ of microflora is maintained in the intestine, ensuring these important and specific functions can be carried out optimally. The main approach to increasing the number of health promoting organisms in the GI tract is the oral administration of live beneficial microbes known as probiotics or prebiotics.

In another study adding prebiotics to infant formula reduced the number of gut infections and reduce the use of antibiotics. Imagine prebiotics instead of having to treat with antibiotics. All bottle fed babies should be on prebiotic formulas. This study followed 342 infants. The infants were randomly assigned to receive either a control formula, or a formula containing an additional mixture of prebiotics over the course of 12 months, the researchers documented that the incidence of gastroenteritis was lower in the prebiotic-supplemented formula group with only 0.12 episodes per child throughout the year, compared to 0.29 episodes per child in the control group. As a result the researchers reported that prebiotic administration reduce intestinal and, possibly, respiratory infections in healthy infants during the first year of age. The likely mechanism is through an increase in bifidobacteria and their concomitant anti-pathogen effects (Clinical Nutrition. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2009.01.008)