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Higher blood levels of selenium may reduce the incidence of skin cancer by about 60 per cent, according to a new study from Dutch and Australian researchers. Writing in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, the researchers report that the mineral was associated with reduced risks of both basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). On the other hand, blood levels of carotenoids and alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) were not associated with any influence on skin cancer risks, report the researchers from Queensland Institute of Medical Research, the University of Queensland, and Maastricht University.

ScienceDaily (Mar. 24, 2009) - Individuals who took a dietary supplement called "factor D", which included selenium, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, continued to have lower gastric cancer and overall mortality 10 years after supplementation ceased compared with individuals who did not take the supplements, according to long-term follow-up data from the randomized, double-blind General Population Nutrition Intervention Trial in Linxian, China.

dbroadwa I had a case of macular degeneration 7 years ago. For about three months I couldn't make out any features on a person's face from across a room with my right eye. My eye doc told me there was no cure. I contacted a person who worked at a holistic health college and she told me it sounded like I was dangerously deficient in zinc and selenium. She also sent me a chinese herbal formula called Celosia 10, some died red berries and told me to pick up bilberry supplement. I started taking these five supplements and in a week to ten days my eyesight was back to normal. On the next visit to the eye doc he was reading my file as he came in and asked if there were any changes since my last visit. I said 'as a matter of fact, yes'. He wrote down all the supplements I'd taken and I later printed out all the info off the containers and dropped it off at his office. He called to tell me that I was taking too much zinc and it could do liver damage, but I'd stopped taking it by then. Three times since, I've started to get the symptoms back and took at least some of these things with the same results. There are two types of MD, and I think only one responds to this approach. bpfsa Spinach truly is a wonderful vegetable, full of healthy properties. There's a website at http://www.spinachwords.com that shows how spinach is a multi-vitamin, multi-mineral, multi-amino, multi-phytonutrient powerhouse. There's alot more to spinach than just lutein and zexanthin and it is beneficial for much more than just your vision. It is great for your heart, for cancer prevention, for maternal & fetal health & development, it boosts your natural SPF levels in your skin, it wards of memory loss, dementia and other signs of ageing, and it is good for strong bones, too. Popeye was right - except maybe about eating a highly processed, canned product instead of fresh spinach.

Th1/Th2 balance: the hypothesis, its limitations, and implications for health and disease. Kidd P. Altern Med Rev. 2003 Aug;8(3):223-46. Review. PMID: 12946237 Th1 pathways typically produce activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (Tc), NK cells, macrophages, and monocytes, all of which can attack cancer cells and generally defend against tumors. 55 IFN-gamma and other Th1 cytokines are typically lower in advanced cancer patients, while the Th2 marker IL-4 can be higher or unchanged.56 Nodules of non-small cell lung cancer freshly removed from patients expressed a marked imbalance toward Th2, as did biopsy samples from basal cell carcinoma.57 In prostate cancer patients IL-2 was low (Th1) and IL-10 high.58 IL-10 is a confirmed Th1-suppressive cytokine, and heightened IL-10 is a common factor in cancer.55 IL-10 has a variety of suppressive effects that include inhibiting Th1 cytokine production, down-regulating APC and NK cell function, and lowering overall T-cell proliferation.57 Especially under the influence of IL-4 (Th2), tumor cells apparently up-regulate IL-10 that suppresses nearby killer cells. Tumor-derived IL-10 has been documented in lymphoma, ovarian carcinoma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, and renal cell and colon carcinoma.57 IL-12 is another cytokine that can be up-regulated by Th1 activity and inhibited by Th2.59 A low IL-12/IL-10 ratio was found in cervical cancer patients.55 Recent clinical studies suggest elevated IL-10 is predictive of a poor prognosis. 57 With both IL-4 and IL-10 being proven inhibitors of Th1 and promoters of Th2 activity, the recognized capability of cancerous tissue to suppress immunity is readily rationalized.

Nutrient intake and immune function of elderly subjects. Wardwell L, Chapman-Novakofski K, Herrel S, Woods J. J Am Diet Assoc. 2008 Dec;108(12):2005-12. PMID: 19027403 doi:10.1016/j.jada.2008.09.003