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It is known that antioxidants can help protect skin from sun damage. What is not known, however, is how blood concentrations of these nutrients affect skin cancer risk. A new study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, however, suggests that the antioxidant mineral selenium had a significant impact on the incidence of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.
A trace element, selenium occurs naturally in the soil and is absorbed by plants and crops, entering the food chain. Its antioxidant properties may slow down the aging and deterioration of tissues caused by free radical damage. Red blood cells, kidneys, liver, spleen, muscle, nails, hair and tooth enamel all contain significant quantities of selenium. In addition to antioxidant action, selenium possesses immune-enhancing properties. By promoting the health of the immune system, selenium may aid in fighting infections and may decrease the incidence of cold sores and shingles caused by the herpes simplex virus. Currently Health Canada’s Recommended Dietary Allowance for selenium from supplementation for adults over the age of 19 is 55 mcg/day.
The researchers, led by Jolieke van der Pols from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, looked at a random sample of 485 adults from an Australian community. The total group was divided into thirds depending on the blood concentrations of carotenoids, alpha-tocopherol, and selenium in 1996, and then analysed for cancer incidence up to eight years later.
They found that the participants with the highest serum levels of selenium (1.3-2.8 µmol/L) also experienced up to 60 percent reduction in incidence of these two forms of skin cancer.
Skin cancer is caused when UV radiation damages the DNA of skin cells that control cell growth, which can result in uncontrollable growth. According the Health Canada, skin cancer is the most common cancer and it is on the rise. Last year, approximately one in every 425 Canadians developed some form of skin carcinoma. Source: J.C. van der Pols, M.M. Heinen, M.C. Hughes, T.I. Ibiebele, G.C. Marks, A.C. Green,
“Serum Antioxidants and Skin Cancer Risk: An 8-Year Community-Based Follow-up Study,” Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
2009, Volume 18, Issue 4, Pages 1167-1173.
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