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ARS Home » Plains Area » Grand Forks, North Dakota » Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center » Dietary Prevention of Obesity-related Disease Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #123925

Title: ANTICARCINOGENIC PROPERTIES OF HIGH SELENIUM FOODS

Author
item HINTZE, KORRY - NO DAK STATE UNIV
item Davis, Cindy
item Gregoire, Brian
item Finley, John

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/18/2001
Publication Date: 8/1/2001
Citation: Hintze, K.J., Davis, C.D., Gregoire, B.R., Finley, J.W. 2001. Anticarcinogenic properties of high selenium foods [abstract]. Presented at the American Oil Seed Society Meeting, Montreal, Canada.

Interpretive Summary: Increased dietary selenium (Se) may prevent colo-rectal cancer. The best method to increase dietary Se is through foods; wheat and broccoli can accumulate Se and thus may be effective for reducing colo-rectal cancer. Initial research demonstrated that Se reduces chemically-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF, a model of colon cancer) in a chemical form and dose dependant manner. Experiments examined the effects of Se from high- selenium broccoli, broccoli sprouts and wheat on occurrence of chemically- induced ACF in rats. Rats fed 2 mg Se/kg diet as high-Se broccoli had fewer ACF than rats fed adequate Se (0.1 mg Se/kg diet) (P > 0.05). Also, high-Se broccoli sprouts reduced ACF (P > 0.05) and mammary tumors (P > 0.05), however pure Se-methylselenocysteine (SeMSC; chemical form of Se in broccoli), added to low-Se broccoli was ineffective. Rats fed 2.0 mg Se/kg diet as high-Se wheat had fewer ACF than rats fed adequate Se (P > 0.05), however pure selenomethionine (chemical form of Se in wheat) added to low- Se wheat was ineffective. Se may exert its inhibitory effect on carcinogenesis by maintaining DNA integrity and/or through selenoproteins. Colon DNA adducts were decreased by Se in a dose and chemical form dependent manner (P> 0.05). The inhibitory effects of Se from broccoli may be partially mediated by differential mRNA expression and enzyme activity of thioredoxin reductase and glutathione peroxidase. These data demonstrate that Se from high-Se broccoli and wheat inhibit colon carcinogenesis and these anti-carcinogenic effects are enhanced when Se is supplied in food forms as opposed to pure chemical forms.

Technical Abstract: Increased dietary selenium (Se) may prevent colo-rectal cancer. The best method to increase dietary Se is through foods; wheat and broccoli can accumulate Se and thus may be effective for reducing colo-rectal cancer. Initial research demonstrated that Se reduces chemically-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF, a model of colon cancer) in a chemical form and dose dependant manner. Experiments examined the effects of Se from high- selenium broccoli, broccoli sprouts and wheat on occurrence of chemically- induced ACF in rats. Rats fed 2 mg Se/kg diet as high-Se broccoli had fewer ACF than rats fed adequate Se (0.1 mg Se/kg diet) (P > 0.05). Also, high-Se broccoli sprouts reduced ACF (P > 0.05) and mammary tumors (P > 0.05), however pure Se-methylselenocysteine (SeMSC; chemical form of Se in broccoli), added to low-Se broccoli was ineffective. Rats fed 2.0 mg Se/kg diet as high-Se wheat had fewer ACF than rats fed adequate Se (P > 0.05), however pure selenomethionine (chemical form of Se in wheat) added to low- Se wheat was ineffective. Se may exert its inhibitory effect on carcinogenesis by maintaining DNA integrity and/or through selenoproteins. Colon DNA adducts were decreased by Se in a dose and chemical form dependent manner (P> 0.05). The inhibitory effects of Se from broccoli may be partially mediated by differential mRNA expression and enzyme activity of thioredoxin reductase and glutathione peroxidase. These data demonstrate that Se from high-Se broccoli and wheat inhibit colon carcinogenesis and these anti-carcinogenic effects are enhanced when Se is supplied in food forms as opposed to pure chemical forms.