Selenium and its Relationship to Cancer

P. D. Whanger
Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology
Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331

The statement "Selenium may reduce the risk of certain kinds of cancer" is supported by scientific evidence. There is significant scientific agreement that daily supplementation with selenium may reduce the risk of some cancers. This report will examine epidemiological studies, human clinical trials, animal studies, and in vitro studies on selenium's relationship to cancer. It will examine the efficacy of different forms of selenium and of different levels of selenium supplementation.

TOPICS:
I. Selenium
II. Selenocompounds in plants.
III. Selenocompounds in animals
IV. Epidemiological studies.
V. Human Trials.
VI. Selenium and tumors in small animals.
VII. Tissue cultures.
VIII. Forms of selenium in foods and supplements.
IX. Level of selenium necessary for nutritive benefit