Positive Health Online

Abstract

YU and colleagues, Department of Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, China studied the relationship between selenium and immune response in large bowel cancer .

Background

Methodology

44 patients with large bowel cancer were randomly assigned to two groups: 1) Therapeutic and 2) Control. Levels of serum selenium, T-lymphocyte subsets - CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, NK and LAK cell activity were determined pre- and post-operatively. Selenium (Se) content in tumour and normal tissues of the large bowel were measured in 35 cases.

Results

Serum Se levels were decreased in patients with large bowel cancer and increased significantly following Se supplementation in the therapeutic group . Compared with controls, Se level was significantly different in the therapeutic group.

Conclusion

These results suggest that Se supplementation may promote cell-mediated immunity in humans. Se level in large bowel tumours was significantly lower than in normal mucosa, indicating that there may be a relationship between low Se level and cancer of the colon and rectum.

References

Yu B et al. The relationship between selenium and immunity in large bowel cancer. Chung Hua Wai Ko Tsa Chih 34(1): 50-3. Jan 1996.