954-792-4663
Mega-Dose Vitamin Therapy in the ICU
by Jeffrey Dach MD
Part Three on Selenium,
Your Vitamins Are Killing You
Decades ago, when Linus Pauling and Abram Hoffer first proposed mega-dose vitamin therapy as a serious treatment, mainstream medicine, aided by the press, promptly discredited this as quackery. To this day, the media faithfully bombards us with the message that vitamins and minerals are useless, harmful or even killing us.(1-6) When one considers the lowly vitamin pill as an economic rival to drugs, and the dependence of the media on drug company advertising, the motivation to discredit mega-dose vitamins becomes all too obvious. Seemingly oblivious to this negative message, physicians quietly go about their business using megadose vitamin therapy in the intensive care unit with considerable success. Recent reports of this have been appearing in medical journals, finally vindicating Linus Pauling and Abram Hoffer as yes, of course, they were right all along.(7-9)
Above Left above image: Wheeling into the ICU, : US Military Project Hope Intensive Care Unit courtesy of wikimedia commons.
Septic Shock – a Preterminal Event
Forty years ago, during my training days working in the intensive care unit, a patient going into septic shock was a grave sign, and usually a preterminal event. In spite of the best treatment with high powered antibiotics and high dose hydrocortisone, these severely ill patients invariably succumbed. Survival was so rare, it was declared a miracle. While treatments have improved since the old days, septic shock still carries a fifty percent mortality rate.
IV Selenium For Septic Shock in the ICU
In 1999, Dr Angstwurm showed that many critically ill patients have low selenium levels. Selenium is the key component of glutathione peroxidase, the key selenoprotein anti-oxidant. In 2007, Dr Angstwurm recruited 249 septic shock patients from eleven intensive care units in Germany, and gave them IV selenium over a 14 day protocol. Results showed mortality reduced to 39% for the selenium treated group, compared to a fifty percent mortality, otherwise. An impressive result, considering the high mortality rate and futility of most other treatments.(10-11) In 2008, Dr Carlos studied septic shock patients and found that selenium levels could be used to predict clinical course. Those with the highest selenium levels had the best outcome, and the lowest selenium levels had the worst.(12)
A Basket of Mega-Dose Vitamins
If one antioxidant, selenium was beneficial in the ICU setting, then perhaps a basket of antioxidants would be even more so. In 2008, Dr Giladi of Vanderbilt tested this hypothesis with a shopping cart of antioxidants. Intravenous Vitamin C, E and Selenium was given over a 7 day protocol to 2,200 ICU trauma patients, and compared to placebo. Dr Giladi reported a 28% mortality reduction for the mega-dose vitamin group.(13) A second report on the same patient study group Febuary 2010 showed that the mega-dose vitamin group also benefited from a 53% reduction in abdominal wall infections, and 38% reduction in respiratory failure.(14)
Reducing Infection Rates, and Time on Ventilators
In 2006, Dr Berger reported that a trace mineral infusion with zinc, copper and selenium reduced by half the infection rates for burn patients in the ICU. These infections were nosocomial pneumonia and ventilator associated pneumonia. (15) In 2009, Dr Alison Avenell from Edinburgh Scotland reported a 10-15% reduction in infection with pneumonia and clostridia difficile enterocolitis in ICU patients treated with a 5 day protocol of IV selenium. (16) In November 2009, Dr El-Attar reported that trace mineral infusions with selenium, zinc and managanese given to patients with chronic lung disease resulted in reducing by half the time on mechanical ventilation.(17)
Animal Model of Inflammatory Hepatic Vasculitis
A 2000 report from China evaluated the effect of selenium and vitamin E on an animal model of experimental hepatic vasculitis. They found the two agents, Selenium and Vitamin E dramatically reduced hepatic inflammation in the experimental animals down from 100% to 20%. (18)
Why Do We Need Selenium?
To understand the importance of selenium, consider the toxic fumes produced by your automobile. You might be surprised to know that your body makes the same foul stuff, similar to your car’s toxic exhaust. Instead of an exhaust pipe to get rid of the fumes, our bodies have the the selenoprotein anti-oxidant system. The main selenoprotein is glutathione peroxidase which works together with other antioxidants, such as Vitamin C and E, to remove the oxidative by-products of cellular energy production. Severe illness leads to depletion of selenoproteins and build up of oxidative by products which may overwhelm the body’s defenses leading to catastrophic outcomes. Replenishing selenium and other anti-oxidants in this setting makes sense, and is in fact extremely beneficial.
Left above image: Auto Exhaust Courtesy of wikimedia commons.
Mega-Dose Vitamins Outside the ICU
Dr Lamm reported mega-dose vitamins useful in prevention of cancer recurrence. Published in the 1994 Journal of Urology, Dr Lamm gave megadose vitamins A, B6, C, E and Zinc 65 to patients with biopsy proven bladder cancer. The patients were followed, and cancer recurrence was reduced in half for patients on the mega-dose vitamin therapy. (19)
effrey Dach MD
7450 Griffin Road Suite 190
Davie, Florida 33314
954-792-4663
http://www.jeffreydach.com/
http://www.drdach.com/
http://www.naturalmedicine101.com/
http://www.truemedmd.com/ http://www.bioidenticalhormones101.com
This is a Third Article in a Three Part Series:
For the previous articles:
Selenium, Part One
Selenium, Part Two
References
Media results for Vitamins Don’t Work
1) http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/20/news-keeps-getting-worse-for-vitamins/
New York Times- November 20, 2008,
News Keeps Getting Worse for Vitamins By TARA PARKER-POPE The best efforts of the scientific community to prove the health benefits of vitamins keep falling short.
2) http://cbs5.com/health/vitamins.study.damaging.2.679134.html
CBS News- Mar 17, 2008 Doctor: Vitamins Don’t Work, Could Be Harmful (CBS 5)
A store shelf full of vitamins. CBS Multivitamins don’t work and may actually be harmful. That’s the opinion of a Harvard doctor and it’s causing quite a controversy.
3) http://www.necn.com/Boston/Health/2009/02/09/Study-Multivitamins-not-that/1234208748.html
Study: Multi-vitamins not that effective- Some research has suggested that certain vitamins may protect against cancer or heart disease, but studies have been conflicting. The latest research, on more than 160,000 postmenopausal women, finds no cancer or heart disease reduction among those taking a multivitamin.
4) http://articles.latimes.com/2008/dec/21/science/sci-vitamins21
LA Times – Vitamins aren’t a cure-all, In fact, taking them does nothing to fight cancer, studies find. December 21, 2008 by Karen Kaplan – They were some of the most promising medicines of the 1990s — wonder pills that appeared to fight cancer, heart disease, stroke and other ailments.
5) http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/vitamins-could-be-killing-you/story-e6frf00i-1111113075043 Daily Telegraph – Vitamins could be killing you, By Tamara McLean From: The Daily Telegraph March 01, 2007
6) http://www.throng.co.nz/inside-new-zealand/inside-new-zealand-series-premiere-are-vitamins-killing-you
Inside New Zealand: Are Vitamins Killing You? Many New Zealanders believe the way to good health and longer life is through the daily use of vitamin supplements. But not everyone agrees. Professor Rod Jackson of Auckland University says the scientific evidence is clear – people who pop vitamin pills die younger. “The best evidence is a review of over 60 randomised trials of almost a quarter of a million people worldwide – and the evidence is that those who take vitamins have an increased risk of death compared to those who don’t,” Professor Jackson explains. But despite our beliefs the latest research says that two vitamins – A and E – are potentially harmful when taken to excess. Furthermore there are some concerns about vitamin C as well. The concern is that many New Zealanders may be upping doses without being aware, mixing multi-vitamins, with fish oils and other assorted vitamin supplements. But how could it be that vitamins might be doing us harm?
Selenium in Critlcally Ill patients
7) http://journal.ics.ac.uk/pdf/1001038.pdf
Review articles – Selenium in critically ill patients by S Strachan, D Wyncoll
The Intensive Care Society 2009 Volume 10, Number 1, January 2009 JICS
Selenium levels fall during periods of oxidative stress as occurs in critically ill patients with conditions such as severe sepsis, burns, and following trauma. Data from individual studies and meta-analyses suggests that selenium is an important adjuvant therapy in certain critically ill patients and supplementation of selenium may offer a mortality benefit.
Nutritional Substrates as Therapy in the ICU
8) http://www.pulmonaryreviews.com/09may/C1.html
How Can Pharmaconutrition Benefit Patients in the ICU? Pulmonary Reviews Vol. 14, No. 5 May 2009. Nutritional supplementation can have a positive therapeutic impact on patient outcomes in the ICU, as evidenced by trials investigating the effects of arginine, zinc, glutamine, and combination therapy. NASHVILLE—Nutritional substrates can be used for critically ill patients not merely as supportive care, but as therapy that targets the underlying disease process and impacts specific patient outcomes, according to several investigators who spoke at the Society of Critical Care Medicine 2009 Critical Care Congress.
Metanalysis of 11 articles – Antioxidants , selenium Reduce Mortality – Dr Berger
9) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15605227
Intensive Care Med. 2005 Mar;31(3):327-37. Epub 2004 Dec 17.
Antioxidant nutrients: a systematic review of trace elements and vitamins in the critically ill patient. by Heyland DK, Dhaliwal R, Suchner U, Berger MM. Department of Medicine, Queen’s University, Kingston, ONT, Canada.
Critical illness is associated with the generation of oxygen free radicals and low endogenous antioxidant capacity leading to a condition of oxidative stress. We investigated whether supplementing critically ill patients with antioxidants, trace elements, and vitamins improves their survival. METHODS: We searched four bibliographic databases from 1980 to 2003 and included studies that were randomized, reported clinically important endpoints in critically ill patients, and compared various trace elements and vitamins to placebo. RESULTS: Eleven articles met the inclusion criteria. When the results of all the trials were aggregated, overall antioxidants were associated with a significant reduction in mortality
CONCLUSIONS: Trace elements and vitamins that support antioxidant function, particularly high-dose parenteral selenium either alone or in combination with other antioxidants, are safe and may be associated with a reduction in mortality in critically ill patients.
Angstrum Germany- selenium for septic shock in the ICU
10) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17095947
Selenium in Intensive Care (SIC): Results of a prospective randomized, placebo-controlled, multiple-center study in patients with severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, and septic shock by Matthias W. A. Angstwurm, MD et al. Crit Care Med 2007 Vol. 35, No. 1
OBJECTIVE: Sepsis is associated with an increase in reactive oxygen species and low endogenous antioxidative capacity. We postulated that high-dose supplementation of sodium-selenite would improve the outcome of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. DESIGN: Prospective randomized, placebo-controlled, multiple-center trial. SETTING: Eleven intensive care units in Germany. PATIENTS: Patients were 249 patients with severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, and septic shock and an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score >70. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received 1000 microg of sodium-selenite as a 30-min bolus injection, followed by 14 daily continuous infusions of 1000 microg intravenously, or placebo. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary end point was 28-day mortality; secondary end points were survival time and clinical course of APACHE III and logistic organ dysfunction system scores. In addition, selenium levels in serum, whole blood, and urine as well as serum glutathione-peroxidase-3 activity were measured. From 249 patients included, 11 patients had to be excluded. The intention-to-treat analysis of the remaining 238 patients revealed a mortality rate of 50.0% in the placebo group and 39.7% in the selenium-treated group (p = .109; odds ratio, 0.66; confidence interval, 0.39-1.1). A further 49 patients had to be excluded before the final analysis because of severe violations of the study protocol. In the remaining 92 patients of the study group, the 28-day mortality rate was significantly reduced to 42.4% compared with 56.7% in 97 patients of the placebo group (p = .049, odds ratio, 0.56; confidence interval, 0.32-1.00).
In predefined subgroup analyses, the mortality rate was significantly reduced in patients with septic shock with disseminated intravascular coagulation (n = 82, p = .018) as well as in the most critically ill patients with an APACHE III score > or =102 (>75% quartile, n = 54, p = .040) or in patients with more than three organ dysfunctions (n = 83, p = .039).
Whole blood selenium concentrations and glutathione peroxidase-3 activity were within the upper normal range during selenium treatment, whereas they remained significantly low in the placebo group. There were no side effects observed due to high-dose sodium-selenite treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The adjuvant treatment of patients with high-dose sodium-
selenite reduces mortality rate in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock.
11) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10507602
Crit Care Med. 1999 Sep;27(9):1807-13.
Selenium replacement in patients with severe systemic inflammatory response syndrome improves clinical outcome. Angstwurm MW, Schottdorf J, Schopohl J, Gaertner R.
Intensive Care Unit, Klinikum Innenstadt, University of Munich, Department of Internal Medicine, Germany.
To determine the effect of selenium replacement on morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). DESIGN: Controlled, randomized prospective open-label pilot study comparing patients with and without selenium replacement. SETTING: Intensive care unit of a university hospital for internal medicine. PATIENTS: Forty-two patients with SIRS caused by infection and a minimal Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score of 15 points on the day of admission were included. The selenium replacement group of patients (Se+; n = 21) received sodium selenite for 9 days (535 microg [6.77 micromol] for 3 days, 285 microg [3.61 micromol] for 3 days, and 155 microg [1.96 micromol] for 3 days) and thereafter, 35 microg (0.44 micromol) per day iv. The control group (Se-, n = 21) received 35 microg of sodium selenite throughout the total treatment period. INTERVENTIONS: Morbidity and clinical outcome was monitored by scoring using the APACHE III score, occurrence of acute renal failure, need and length of mechanical ventilation, and hospital mortality. Blood samples on days 0, 3, 7, and 14 were analyzed for serum selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The median APACHE II score at admission, age, gender, underlying diseases, serum selenium levels, and GSH-Px activities at admission were identical in both groups. In Se+ patients, serum selenium levels and GSH-Px activity normalized within 3 days, whereas in controls, both variables remained significantly low (p < .0001). The APACHE III score decreased significantly in both groups but was significantly lower in the Se+ group (day 3, p > .05; day 7, p = .018; and day 14, p = .045 Se+ compared with Se-). Hemodialysis with continuous veno-venous hemodialysis because of acute renal failure was necessary in nine Se- compared with three Se+ patients (p = .035). Overall mortality in the Se- group was 52% vs. 33.5% in the Se+ group (p = .13). CONCLUSIONS: Selenium replacement in patients with SIRS seems to improve clinical outcome and to reduce the incidence of acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis.
Selenium Level in Septic Patients Correlates with Clinical course
12) http://www.advancesinsepsis.com/pdfs/4407.pdf
Selenium in Early Sepsis: A Marker for Change? by W Graham Carlos, MD, Curtis Ramsey MS, and Joseph Fraiz, MD St Vincent Hospital and Health Systems, Indianapolis, IN, USA
Adv Sepsis 2008;6(3):99–102.
Previous studies of patients with severe oxidative stress have demonstrated decreases in GPX activity. We examined the role of assessing serial Se concentrations
in 30 septic patients upon admission to the intensive care unit and found statistically significant correlations between trends in Se concentrations and clinical course.
Giladi – Vanderbilt- Selenium pluc C and E in the ICU
vitamin C, E, selenium
13) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18596309
http://pen.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/32/4/384
Impact of High-Dose Antioxidants on Outcomes in Acutely Injured Patients
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2008 Jul-Aug;32(4):384-8. Bryan R. Collier, Aviram Giladi, Lesly A. Dossett, Lindsay Dyer, Sloan B. Fleming,Bryan A. Cotton, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.
Background: The profound oxidative stress that occurs following injury results in significant depletion of many endogenous antioxidants (vitamin C, E, selenium). Increasing evidence suggests antioxidant supplementation reduces infectious complications and organ dysfunction following injury and hemorrhagic shock. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of high-dose antioxidant administration on the mortality rate of acutely injured patients. Methods: In October 2005, we implemented a 7-day high-dose antioxidant protocol for acutely injured patients admitted to our trauma center. A retrospective cohort study, evaluating all patients admitted to the trauma service between October 2005 and September 2006 following protocol implementation (AO+), was performed. The comparison cohort (AO–) was made up of those patients admitted in the year prior to protocol implementation. Results: A total of 4,294 patients met criteria (AO+, N = 2,272; AO–, N = 2022). Hospital (4 vs 3 days, P < .001) and ICU (3 vs 2 days, P = .001) median length of stays were significantly shorter in the AO+ group. Mortality was significantly lower in the AO+ group (6.1% vs 8.5%, P = .001), translating into a 28% relative risk reduction for mortality in patients exposed to high-dose antioxidants. After adjusting for age, gender, and probability of survival, AO exposure was associated with even lower mortality (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.22-0.46). Patients with an expected survival <50% benefited most (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.15-0.37).
Conclusions: A high-dose antioxidant protocol resulted in a 28% relative risk reduction in mortality and a significant reduction in both hospital and ICU length of stay. This protocol represents an inexpensive intervention to reduce mortality/morbidity in the trauma patient.
Giladi Anna Arbor-Post Injury
– Se, C, E in ICU – less ventilator dependence , less infection in Trauma Patients
(14) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20149369
Injury. 2010 Feb 9. [Epub ahead of print]
High-dose antioxidant administration is associated with a reduction in post-injury complications in critically ill trauma patients. by Giladi AM, Dossett LA, Fleming SB, Abumrad NN, Cotton BA. Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
Abstract We recently demonstrated a high-dose antioxidant (AO) protocol was associated with reduction in mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of AO on organ dysfunction and infectious complications following injury. PATIENTS AND METHODS: High-dose AO protocol: ascorbic acid 1000mg q 8h, alpha-tocopherol 1000IU q 8h, and selenium 200mcg qd for 7-day course. Retrospective cohort study evaluating all patients admitted after protocol implementation (AO+), October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2006. Comparison cohort (AO-): all patients admitted in the year prior to implementation, October 1, 2004 to September 30, 2005. RESULTS: 2272 patients included in the AO+ group, 2022 patients in the AO- group. Demographics and injury severity were similar. Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) (2.9% vs. 0.7%, <0.001), surgical site infections (2.7% vs. 1.3%, p=0.002), pulmonary failure (27.6% vs. 17.4%, p<0.001), and ventilator-dependent respiratory failure (10.8% vs. 7.1%, p<0.001) were significantly less in the AO+ group. Multivariate regression showed 53% odds reduction in abdominal wall complications and 38% odds reduction in respiratory failure in the AO+ group. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a high-dose AO protocol was associated with a reduction in respiratory failure and ventilator-dependence. In addition, AO were associated with a marked decrease in abdominal wall complications, including ACS and surgical site infections. Co
Trace Mineral Supplementation in Severe Burn patients in ICU reduces pneumonia in HALF
15) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1794452
Crit Care. 2006; 10(6): R153. Reduction of nosocomial pneumonia after major burns by trace element supplementation: aggregation of two randomised trials
Mette M Berger,1 Philippe Eggimann,1 Daren K Heyland,2 René L Chioléro,1 Jean-Pierre Revelly,1 Andrew Day,2 Wassim Raffoul,3 and Alan Shenkin4
Intervention consisted of intravenous trace element supplements (copper 2.5 to 3.1 mg/day, selenium 315 to 380 μg/day, and zinc 26.2 to 31.4 mg/day) for 8 to 21 days versus placebo. A significant reduction in number of infections was observed in the supplemented patients, which decreased from 3.5 ± 1.2 to 2.0 ± 1.0 episodes per patient in placebo group (p < 0.001). This was related to a reduction of nosocomial pneumonia, which occurred in 16 (80%) patients versus seven (33%) patients, respectively (p < 0.001), and of ventilator-associated pneumonia from 13 to six episodes, respectively (p = 0.023).
SIGNET – 10-15% decrease in infection rates reported with selenium supplemented parenteral nutrition if given for at least 5 days
(16) http://www.bapen.org.uk/res_press_signet_results.html
Issued: 15 October 2009 RESULTS OF ‘SIGNET’ TRIAL REVEALED EXCLUSIVELY AT BAPEN CONFERENCE 2009 by Dr Alison Avenell, Health Services Research Unit, University of Aberdeen AB25 2ZD 2Professor P J Andrews, Dept of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh Scotland. The SIGNET Trial – a randomised controlled trial of glutamine and/or selenium supplemented parenteral nutrition in critical illness. 10-15% decrease in infection rates reported with selenium supplemented parenteral nutrition if given for at least 5 days
Dr Avenell reported a significant reduction in infection rates, such as pneumonia and c. difficile, with selenium supplemented parenteral nutrition (PN) in critically ill patients as long as the PN was administered for at least 5 days. 10 centres in Scotland recruited adult patients who had been in critical care for 48 hours and required PN for at least half of their nutritional requirements.
In the selenium arm, no clear benefit on mortality was observed but significant reduction in infection rates was observed as described above.
Selenium Level and Time on Ventilator in COPD patients
(17) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19761535
Respirology. 2009 Nov;14(8):1180-7. Epub 2009 Sep 16.
Serum trace element levels in COPD patient: the relation between trace element supplementation and period of mechanical ventilation in a randomized controlled trial.
El-Attar M, Said M, El-Assal G, Sabry NA, Omar E, Ashour L.
Chest Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect trace elements (Se, Mn and Zn) intravenously administered on the period the COPD patients spend on mechanical ventilation. METHODS: In a randomized double-blinded controlled trial a set of 120 subjects (40 normal volunteers and 80 COPD) were recruited. Serum concentration levels of Se, Mn and Zn were determined for all enrolled subjects with Inductively Coupled Plasma spectroscopy. COPD patients received intravenous supplementation of the above trace elements and the period the patients spent on mechanical ventilation was determined. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction (P = 0.013) in the period the patients with COPD spent on the mechanical ventilation when received intravenous supplementation (9.4 +/- 7.3 days) compared with the COPD patients who received placebo (17.8 +/- 7.6 days). CONCLUSIONS: Trace element (Se, Mn and Zn) status is altered in critically ill patients with COPD. The supplementation achieved a reduction in the period those patients spent on the mechanical ventilation.
(18) Selenium and Vit E down regulates inflammatory response in animal model of experimental vasculitis.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11866925
Zhonghua Bing Li Xue Za Zhi. 2000 Aug;29(4):279-83. [Study on the modulation of the inflammatory response in mouse hepatic vasculitis with sodium selenite and vitamin E antioxidants] [Article in Chinese] by Xu M, Hou J, Wu Y, Ling Y. Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the regulatory effect of sodium selenite and vitamin E on complement-neutrophil-reactive oxygen species (ROS)-activation feedback mechanism-mediated inflammatory response. METHODS: The modulation of inflammatory response through the complement-neutrophil-ROS-activation feedback cycle with sodium selenite and alpha-tocopherol was verified both in vitro tests by chemiluminescense technique and complement fixation to detect ROS production and complement activation as well as in vivo mouse hepatic vasculitis models to test for the regulation of the inflammatory response. RESULTS: Convincing results were observed as the incidence of hepatic vasculitis dropped from 100% in the control group down to 20% in the seleno-antioxidant vitamin E treated group, indicating down regulation of the inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS: Elucidation of the mechanism of complement mediated inflammatory response is a promising area for new therapeutic developments in the modulation of inflammatory response. This study suggests that selenium, vitamin E and other antioxidants may be the useful therapeutic agents in those disorders in which upregulation of inflammatory response has been implicated, e.g. ischemia, reperfusion injury, severe sepsis, rheumatoid arthritis and hepatitis.
_________________
Megadose Vitamins Reduce Bladder Cancer Recurrence
19) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8254816
J Urol. 1994 Jan;151(1):21-6.
Megadose vitamins in bladder cancer: a double-blind clinical trial.
Lamm DL, Riggs DR, Shriver JS, vanGilder PF, Rach JF, DeHaven JI.
Department of Urology, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown.
Epidemiological and laboratory studies suggest that vitamin supplements may be helpful in the prevention of some cancers but clinical trials to date have failed to demonstrate protection with naturally occurring vitamins. Without substantiation of the highly touted benefits of vitamins, few physicians who care for cancer patients have recommended their use. A total of 65 patients with biopsy confirmed transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder enrolled in a randomized comparison of intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) with or without percutaneous administration was also randomized by closed envelope to therapy with multiple vitamins in the recommended daily allowance (RDA) versus RDA multivitamins plus 40,000 units vitamin A, 100 mg. vitamin B6, 2,000 mg. vitamin C, 400 units vitamin E and 90 mg. zinc. The addition of percutaneous BCG did not significantly lessen tumor recurrence but recurrence after 10 months was markedly reduced in patients receiving megadose vitamins. The 5-year estimates of tumor recurrence are 91% in the RDA arm and 41% in the megadose arm (p = 0.0014, Mantel-Cox). Overall recurrence was 24 of 30 patients (80%) in the RDA arm and 14 of 35 (40%) in the high dose arm (p = 0.0011, 2-tailed Fisher’s exact test). Megadose vitamins A, B6, C and E plus zinc decrease bladder tumor recurrence in patients receiving BCG immunotherapy. Further research will be required to identify which ingredient(s) provide this protection.
_________________
Selenium and Cancer
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20424130
Cancer Prev Res (Phila Pa). 2010 Apr 27. [Epub ahead of print]
A Large Prospective Study of SEP15 Genetic Variation, Interaction with Plasma Selenium Levels, and Prostate Cancer Risk and Survival. Penney KL, Schumacher FR, Li H, Kraft P, Morris JS, Kurth T, Mucci LA, Hunter DJ, Kantoff PW, Stampfer MJ, Ma J.
The role of selenium in prostate cancer (PCa) risk remains controversial, but many epidemiologic studies suggest an inverse association with more aggressive disease. A recently discovered selenoprotein, SEP15, which is highly expressed in the prostate, may play a role either independently or by modifying the effects of selenium. We genotyped four common single-nucleotide polymorphisms capturing common variation (frequency >5%; R(2) > 0.8) within SEP15, as well as rs5859 in the 3′ untranslated region, previously reported to reduce the efficiency of selenium incorporation into SEP15. We examined the association of these single-nucleotide polymorphisms with PCa risk and PCa-specific mortality, as well as their interactions with plasma selenium levels, in the Physicians’ Health Study. In this nested case-control study (1,286 cases and 1,267 controls), SEP15 polymorphisms were not significantly associated with PCa risk. However, among the cases, three variants were significantly associated with PCa-specific mortality [rs479341 hazard ratio (HR), 1.94; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.15-3.25; rs1407131 HR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.45-5.59; rs561104 HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.12-2.11] with a recessive model. Additionally, rs561104 significantly modified the association of plasma selenium with PCa survival (P(interaction) = 0.02); an inverse relationship of high levels of selenium with PCa mortality was apparent only among those without the increased risk genotype. This study provides evidence that SEP15 genetic variation may influence PCa mortality. Additionally, the association of selenium with PCa mortality was modified by a variant, suggesting the possibility that some men with PCa may benefit more from selenium than others, depending on their genotype. Cancer Prev Res; 3(5); 604-10. (c)2010 AACR.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20413070
J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2010 Apr;24(2):119-23. Epub 2009 Oct 23.
Supplementation of selenium reduces chemical hepatocarcinogenesis in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Alwahaibi N, Mohamed J, Alhamadani A. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Julan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The results showed that the number and sizes of hepatic nodules in pre- and post-selenium treatment groups significantly decreased (P<0.05) compared with the positive control. Microscopic analysis of pre- and post-selenium groups showed that the majority of nodules were hyperplastic with preserved liver architecture, whereas the positive control was full of neoplastic nodules with a completely disrupted liver architecture. Hence, pre- and post-selenium treatments can reduce the extent of liver cancer on chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.
ACAM Rebuttal Supporting Vitamins
http://acam.typepad.com/blog/2009/09/selling-the-vitamins-dont-work-myth-whats-the-real-story.html
September 02, 2009 Selling the “Vitamins Don’t Work” Myth: What’s the Real Story?
by John Pittman, MD In recent years, newspapers have been trumpeting the news that vitamins C, D and E—as well as multi-vitamins preparations—do not prevent heart attack, stroke or cancer. These reports have led to a great deal of confusion and disillusionment among health-conscious consumers, many of whom already take supplements and are genuinely interested in practical ways to bolster their health and well-being. But is it really true that vitamin supplements are a waste of money and possibly even harmful for you? What are we to make of recent media pronouncements that most people are popping these pills without deriving any benefit whatsoever?
http://www.pharmapal.com/pharmapal/pdf/selenase.pdf
Selenase from BioSyn
http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/cc5109.pdf
Seleno-enzymes and seleno-compounds: the two faces of selenium by Xavier Forceville
http://ccforum.com/content/10/6/180 BioMed Central
Selenium protects cells and inhibits many inflammatory cell mechanisms through antioxidant seleno-enzymes. Immunity improvement is illustrated by the study of Berger and colleagues, with reduction of nosocomial pneumonia in burnt patients under multitrace-
element supplementation. As seleno-compounds (especially sodium selenite) are pro-oxidant, however, administration above 800 μg/day may be dangerous in septic shock. Paradoxically,
direct reversible pro-oxidative effects of seleno-compounds may also be beneficial for reduction of inflammation (genomic action, apoptosis), and may even be bactericidal or virucidal. These facts need to be further examined, as well as the possible dramatic drop
of plasma selenoprotein P in septic shock and its role in endothelium protection.
Link to this article:http://wp.me/P3gFbV-f8
Jeffrey Dach MD
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