Selenium, Brazil Nuts and Prostate Cancer

In a new finding, high blood levels of the mineral selenium were associated with a four- to fivefold decrease in the risk of prostate cancer. Scientists at Stanford University suggest taking selenium supplements to ward off this most common form of cancer in men.

The California researchers studied 52 men who had prostate cancer and compared them to 96 men who didn't. Blood plasma levels of selenium were measured for years before any diagnosis of prostate cancer, according to a report in the December issue of The Journal of Urology {2001;166:2034-8}. One surprising finding was that blood levels of selenium generally decreased with age. As is well known, the risk of prostate cancer increases dramatically as one ages.

"This study showed that there was a direct connection between selenium and prostate cancer," said Dr. James Brooks, lead author of the study, in a university news release. "Older men with higher levels of selenium were at lower risk, while, conversely, "individuals with the lowest range of plasma selenium represent a population at risk for the development of prostate cancer."

"These results support the hypothesis that supplemental selenium may reduce the risk of prostate cancer," said Brooks. Other studies have shown that selenium is associated with a reduction in the risk of other cancers as well, including those in women.

The latest findings are dramatic. Selenium is easy to get and take, while prostate cancer can be devastating. But notice something else: in the past, important findings in the field of prevention were almost always followed by weasel-worded statements, such as "scientists do not recommend that people actually take food supplements."

This ringing endorsement of a dietary supplement, from a major university, certainly represents a welcome change. As author of Antioxidants Against Cancer (which has a chapter on selenium), I am hardly one to argue against taking supplements. However, I myself gag on the sulfurous odor of many selenium supplements. Instead, I eat Brazil nuts. Brazil Nuts (pictured above)

Adding Brazil nuts to your diet will help you reach the desired level of 200 micrograms (mcg) per day. Here is an important tip: one unshelled Brazil nut (the kind you must crack yourself) averages 100 mcg of selenium, according to Cornell Professor Donald J. Lisk. On the other hand, an already shelled Brazil nut averages 12 to 25 mcg. So, while you can reach your daily requirement with two freshly hulled Brazil nuts, it would take between 8 and 16 already-shelled nuts to reach that level.

There are other reasons to favor unshelled nuts. They are less likely to be contaminated by chemicals, odors or molds. Inspect the nuts carefully. Fresh Brazil nuts should be ivory white. If they have turned yellow, don't eat them. If you're not sure, take a nibble, and focus on the after-taste. It should be sweet, never bitter or rancid.

Keep all nuts in the refrigerator before using them. They can go rancid. One logistical problem is that Brazil nuts tend to cling tenaciously to their shells. There are various fixes for this. If you freeze the nuts, the meat comes away from the shell more easily. Crack them while frozen and then let them defrost before eating. A good nutcracker (with a roughened surface) and a metal nut pick are essential tools. Some sources recommended baking them at 350 degrees F for about 15 minutes. I would avoid heating them, however, for fear of losing valuable nutrients.

Selenium can be toxic in relatively high doses. According to Dr. Lisk, the toxic dose is around 2,500 mcg per day. Also, people are occasionally allergic to Brazil nuts. Or the nuts may have become contaminated with peanuts in processing. If you have never eaten them before, start with a small bite and then proceed with caution. I myself have never had a problem with them. They are delicious.

After Brazil nuts, another good source of selenium is garlic. Everyone should try to average two cloves of fresh garlic per day. Other foods high in selenium are whole grains, sunflower seeds, other nuts, meat and seafood, especially swordfish, tuna and oysters. However you do it, try to make sure that you get your daily dose of 200 mcg of selenium. It could make a big difference.

A Free Online Newsletter

The Internet has unleashed a flood of health information--some excellent, some dubious and some even dangerous. Sorting through the conflicting claims can be a full-time job. One reliable guide is Michael Janson, MD. Dr. Janson is well-known as the past president of the American College for the Advancement of Medicine and American Preventive Medical Association. He founded and directed the first complementary-alternative medical center in New England, in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1976. Overall, he is one of the best-known holistic physicians in the country.

Dr. Janson offers excellent health information at his website, www.drjanson.com. He also offers a free monthly newsletter, which is available in either html or pdf format (for those who have downloaded the free program, Adobe Acrobat). His newsletter is not particularly about cancer, but it does offer a great deal of reliable news and advice about a host of health conditions of interest to cancer patients. I urge you to subscribe by going to his website, www.drjanson.com.

Are Cherries Dangerous?

In reference to last week's newsletter, a reader kindly pointed out that some parts of the wild cherry plant can be poisonous. So, in case my article last week inspired some of you to beat the bushes for indigenous forms of Prunus, let me go on record against wanton experimentation. Cherry pits and leaves do contain prunasin, a close relative of amygdalin (a.k.a. Laetrile). Eating these with abandon could give you a nasty case of cyanide poisoning. However, as far as I know, the cherry fruit and its juice are among the safest comestibles you are likely to find on this Good Earth. But always remember what the sage Paracelsus said 500 years ago: " All things are poisonous. Only the dose makes a thing not a poison."

This week I completed a new report on paraganglioma. This is a rare kind of tumor that particularly afflicts people who live at high altitudes. The familial form is also found in people of Dutch or Afrikaaner descent. Ask for Report #170. I have been up to my eyebrows in email lately. If you are a client please make sure that you communicate through our "Q and A" portal in the Members Area. It was set up to handle client communication efficiently. Whether you are a client or not, please try to keep your communications with me short, simple and to-the-point.

I have added two more speeches to the Health Professional section of cancerdecisions.com. (Anyone can access these.) The first was a speech I gave at the National Press Club in Washington in 1996. It concerned the failure of the war on cancer, as I saw it then. This month is the 30th anniversary of that "war." You might like to read what I wrote five years ago and compare it to the present situation.

Also, I have added a non-cancer related item to the site. This was the commencement address that I gave last June at the graduation ceremonies of my alma mater, Abraham Lincoln High School. I think readers may find it interesting from a personal point of view.

Please visit us at www.cancerdecisions.com for lots of useful information and free back issues of this weekly newsletter. You can also order a Moss report there or from our coordinator Diane Galbo. Our business address is now PO Box 8183, State College, PA 16803. Our new phone number is 814-238-3369. Our toll-free number remains 800-980-1234.

Till next week...Best wishes for your safety, good health and peace of mind!

Ralph W. Moss, Ph.D.