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Lung Cancer Associated with Low Selenium Status
Previous resarch has suggested that selenium may have anti-oxidative and anti-carcinogenic properties. This study further examines the association between lung cancer and serum selenium.
The Finnish Mobile Clinic collected serum samples from 9,101 subjects without cancer, and subsequent follow-up diagnosed 95 cases of lung cancer. Serum selenium was analysed in all cancer subjects and 190 controls.
Findings indicate that an increased risk of lung cancer is associated with low levels of serum selenium. A strong relationship was observed in smokers and in people with elevated serum copper and orosomucoid concentrations. A lowered risk was associated with higher selenium levels, only at low alpha-tocopherol concentrations.
Increased risk of lung cancer was particularly evident in subjects with continually low selenium status. The authors conclude that low selenium status in some circumstances may be a risk factor in causing lung cancer.
Is low selenium status a risk factor for lung cancer?
Am J Epidemiol 148 (1998)
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