The mineral Selenium slows the growth of thyroid cancer

     Researchers from Weill Medical College at Cornell note that supplementing with the mineral Selenium is reported to decrease the incidence and rate of death from cancer. In vitro and in vivo studies have show a decrease in prostate, lung, and liver cancers. Cancerous thyroid cells were treated with a common form of Selenium (Seleno-Methionine) for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Treatment with Selenium significantly decreased the proliferation of the thyroid cancer cells. The cycle of the cell was inhibited meaning that the cells were not allowed to grow and replicate. There was a 271% rate of inhibition
Of the cell cycle at the S phase and a 61% effect in the G2/M phase compared to cells not exposed to Selenium. Selenium was found to affect 21 different genes involved in the cancer process leading to the stifling of the growth and proliferation of thyroid cancer. Technically it worked by stimulating genes in a family known as GADD and these genes fight cancer. The study is published in the February 2010 issue of the journal Nutrition and Cancer.

.