Several studies have suggested a link between cancer and Se deficiency. However, these links are still controversial, many for what skin cancers are concerned. After a multicentre double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled cancer prevention trial, Se treatment did not protect against development of squamous cell carcinomas of the skin. However, results from secondary and point analyses support the hypothesis that supplemental Se may reduce the incidence of, and mortality from, carcinomas in several sites.
The Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Trial was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to test whether selenium as se1enized yeast could prevent nonmelanoma skin cancer among 1,312 patients from the eastern United States who had previously had this disease.
Although results through the entire blinded period continued to show that selenium supplementation was not statistically significantly associated with the risk of basal cell carcinoma, selenium supplementation was associated with statistically significantly elevated risk of squamous cell carcinoma and of total nonmelanoma skin cancer. The hypothesis of a link between Se and cancer is based on the antioxidant capacity or enhancing immuno-activity of Se. However, not all the studies agree on the cancer fighting effects of Se.
One study of naturally occurring levels of Se in over 60,000 participants did not show a significant correlation between those levels and cancer. However, the SU.VI. MAX study concluded that low-dose supplementation with 120 mg of ascorbic acid, 30 mg of vitamin E, 6 mg of beta carotene, 100 ug of selenium, and 20 mg of zinc resulted in a 31% reduction in the incidence of cancer and a 37% reduction in all cause mortality in males, but it did not get a significant result for females.
In conclusion, the possible functional use of Se in cosmetics is linked to its role in preventing oxidative stress due to free radical molecules. Finally, it must be pointed out that a government report has revealed that most people in the U.K. are not getting sufficient amounts of the trace element selenium in their diet.
According to the MAFF report, Food Surveillance Information Sheet Number 51, the average consumption of Se is currently only 34 ug per day, with falls well short of the RNI (References Nutrient Intake, formerly Recommended Daily Allowance) set by the government's COMA report in 1991, which stated that the desired level for men is 75 ug and 60 ug for women.
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