The relation between serum selenium value and cancer in Miyagi, Japan: 5-year follow up study.

To determine the relation between serum selenium (Se) values and the development of cancer, we compared serum Se levels among cancer patients, non-cancer patients, and healthy adults. Serum Se values in cancer patients were examined with respect to primary cancer sites separately. We tracked non-cancer patients and healthy people for 5 years after serum collection to examine whether low Se status is a risk factor for cancer.

[Serum selenium contents and the risk of cancer].

To investigate the relationship between serum Se contents and the risk of cancer, 4857 serum samples were obtained from cancerous (2730) and non-cancerous patients (2127). In this cohort, the incidence of cancer in the non-cancerous patients was followed for the subsequent 3 years. The serum Se level of non-cancerous patients who later developed cancer during the 3 years was determined and compared with that of the non-cancerous patients.

[Serum selenium contents in cancer patients].

The conclusions were confirmed by determining the serum Selenium levels in 2099 cancerous of non-cancerous patients as follows: 1) The mean serum Selenium levels of males is significantly higher than in females. 2) Serum Selenium levels tend to decrease with age. 3) The serum Selenium levels of cancerous patients is significantly lower than in non-cancerous patients.