Stellenwert von Selen in der menschlichen Ernährung und seine Bedeutung in der Prävention und Therapie von Tumorerkrankungen

Abstract: Selenium was regarded for a long time as toxic. Only since 1957 it is known that the semi-metal belongs to the essential trace elements and that clinically manifest selenium deficiency may lead to serious diseases as cardiomyopathies and osteoarthropathies also with people. In the meantime, epidemiologic data gives reason to believe that also a latent selenium deficiency that does not immediately lead to symptoms may encourage the formation of particular diseases such as cancer. The antioxidative enzyme glutathione peroxidase - the first selenium dependent protein that was found - plays a decisive role here. The antitumorigenic, immunogenic and anti-inflammatory characteristics of selenium which were detected in many in vitro and in vivo studies with animals and humans and the fact that the total number of selenium proteins with eukaryotes is estimated at 50-60 show that also other selenium proteins must be of great importance for the carcinogenesis. Apart from this, selenium, and here particularly sodium selenite, proved to be effective also in the therapy of tumor diseases. Therefore, the use of sodium selenite may be regarded as an effective, complementary therapy method without side effects which has a positive effect on the total condition and with that on the quality of life of the patient and which has its entitlement in the adjuvant as well as in the palliative treatment of tumor patients.

Keyword(s): Freie Radikale

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