Study: More Selenium May Help Protect Against Breast Cancer

Selenium supplements may help protect some women who are genetically predisposed to developing breast cancer, according to researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The trace element, found in foods such as brazil nuts, liver and kidneys, appears to interact with an enzyme that guards against the disease, the researchers reported in the journal Cancer Research.

Their study focused on the role played in breast cancer by a selenium-containing protein called glutathione peroxidase -- an enzyme that is selenium-dependent.

In comparing genes from more than 500 cancer-free individuals with the same genes containted in 79 breast tissue samples, they concluded that women with a certain version of one gene may require more selenium in their diet for the cancer-fighting enzyme to work properly.

Researchers Alan Diamond said the study suggests that by identifying what version of this gene a person has, selenium supplements may someday be prescribed for those who appear to need them.

"Utimately, this might influence who would most benefit from having dietary supplementary selenium," he said. But Diamond said at this point it is still too early to make recommendations about levels of dietary selenium that would benefit most of the population.

Other Sources: University of Illinois at Chicago