Pancreatic cancer occurs when cancerous cells form in the tissues of your pancreas -- an oblong gland in your abdomen that produces hormones, such as insulin. More than 43,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas each year, according to the National Cancer Institute, most of whom are over age 65. Treatment involves radiation, chemotherapy or surgery. Selenium, a potent antioxidant your body requires for health, may provide cancer-related benefits.
Selenium Function
Selenium is known as a trace mineral, meaning your body requires small daily amounts for good health. The antioxidant properties of selenium guard against cell damage from free radicals, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Free radicals are substances derived from oxygen metabolism that may contribute to chronic diseases, including cancer. Selenium also helps regulate function of your thyroid gland and plays an important role in your immune system.
Potential Benefits
Although research findings are mixed and limited, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements, studies have suggested that selenium guards against cancer in two ways -- by preventing or slowing tumor growth and by helping protect the body from free radical damage. Consuming an overall healthy diet, sufficient in selenium and other vital nutrients, strengthens your overall wellness, which can lower your risk for cancer and its complications. Diets rich in vegetables and limited in animal fat and meat are associated with a reduced risk for some of the most common forms of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Plant foods are major sources of selenium worldwide.
Effectiveness
There is not enough existing evidence to prove that selenium, or any single nutrient, is helpful for preventing or treating cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Populations who live in areas of the world where the selenium content of the soil is high, however, do exhibit significantly lower cancer-related death rates. And patients with tumors of the pancreas fare best on a largely plant-based diet, according to Dr. Nicholas J. Gonzalez, an oncologist in New York. Plant-based diets tend to contain rich amounts of selenium.
Suggestions
To strengthen your immune system and lower your risk for pancreatic and other forms of cancer, the cancer society recommends eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, limiting refined foods, such as french fries, snack chips and sweets, and choosing whole-grain breads, cereals and pasta over foods based on refined flour. Valuable sources of selenium include Brazil nuts, fish, grain-fed meat and poultry and enriched pasta. Limit unhealthy fat sources, such as high-fat meats, dairy products and fried foods, and practice portion control because overeating and weight gain can increase your cancer risk. If you have pancreatic cancer, getting appropriate nutrition can enhance your physical strength and help you feel better. Because the disease and its treatment can make eating well difficult, seeking specified guidance from your doctor or dietitian is important.
References
- National Cancer Institute: What You Need to Know About Pancreatic Cancer
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Selenium Fact Sheet
- American Cancer Society: Selenium
- Dr-Gonzalez.com: Pancreatic Cancer, Proteolytic Enzyme Therapy and Detoxification
- American Cancer Society: ACS Guidelines on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention
- National Cancer Institute: Pancreatic Cancer Nutrition
