Category Archives: Selenium

Glutathione Peroxidase and Selenium Supplements

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Glutathione peroxidase is an important antioxidant in mammals, including humans. Glutathione peroxidase is important because it is involved in the reduction of hydrogen peroxide to water, and also reduces lipid hydroperoxides. In this respect glutathione peroxidase plays an important role … Continue reading →

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Selenium and Prostate Cancer

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Clark’s seminal paper (here) showing a 50 % reduction in cancer mortality from 200 µg per day selenium yeast has been followed by a number of other studies suggesting that selenium deficiency might be a cause of cancer. Cancer is … Continue reading →

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Selenium: Depletion and Repletion

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Robert Barrington

elenium is an essential trace mineral required as a co-factor in a number of selenoproteins including selenoprotein P, thioredoxin reductase, and glutathione peroxidise. Of these glutathione peroxidise is particularly well researched with regard its cellular role, whereby it helps maintain … Continue reading →

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Plasma Selenium: The Drop Zone

Posted on April 25, 2013 by Robert Barrington

elenium is an essential mineral in human nutrition. Dietary selenium is required because the selenium ion is utilised in the structure of number of selenoproteins. Of the selenoproteins, the most widely known is glutathione peroxidise, an enzyme that catalyses the … Continue reading →

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Selenium Insufficiency: Silent Killer?

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Selenium is an essential trace mineral required for human health. Deficiency of selenium is associated the development of myalgia, cardiac myopathy, increased cell fragility and pancreatic degeneration, which can cause Keshan disease and Kashin-Beck’s disease. Selenium deficiency is rare in … Continue reading →

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Plasma Levels of Micronutrients: Are they Reliable During Disease?

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Much of the work performed to determine the normal range of plasma micronutrients was undertaken in healthy subjects. This information was obtained from depletion studies of single nutrients, and has been used to compile many of the nutritional guides for … Continue reading →

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Is Avoiding Dairy Bad for Your Health?

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Robert Barrington

The dietary cholesterol and saturated fatty acid theory of cardiovascular disease does not stand up to scientific scrutiny. Avoiding dairy products to reduce saturated fatty acid and cholesterol intakes is therefore not justified based on the scientific literature. In fact, … Continue reading →

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Vitamin Supplements and Memory

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Low B vitamin status has been shown to increase the risk of memory problems and dementia in the elderly. Trials using supplements of B vitamins have found benefits to cognitive performance, possibly because B vitamins are required for the production … Continue reading →

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Brazil Nuts for Selenium?

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Evidence suggests that selenium at intakes greater than recommended are beneficial to the health in terms of reduction in chronic disease and improved immune status. For example, evidence reported by Clark1 showed that 200µg of selenium per day reduces the … Continue reading →

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How Does Selenium Prevent Cancer?

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Robert Barrington

A clinical trial to assess the effects of 200µg selenium per day from brewer’s yeast on in 1312 patients with skin cancer found no significant effects. However, the researchers were surprised to see that following the 4.5 year study, the … Continue reading →

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