The MBSR-based cancer recovery and wellness intervention improved the symptoms and quality of life of this largely breast cancer survivor population across a variety of cancer symptoms and quality-of-life measures.
Glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9, GSH-Px) activities and selenium (Se) concentrations in blood of 12 New Zealand residents were followed during prolonged supplementation with physiological doses (100 microgram Se) of sodium selenite (selenite-Se) or selenomethionine (Semet-Se). GSH-Px activities increased in all subjects but at 17 wk the mean increase was not significantly greater for Semet-Se (6.2 +/- SD 3.2 units/g Hb) than for selenite-Se (3.7 +/- 1.8 units/g Hb). After dosing ceased, GSH-Px activities for most subjects returned to predosing values in 17 to 40 wk, but in some subjects activities remained high. Increases in Se concentrations in whole blood, erythrocytes, and plasma were greater after Semet-Se than after selenite-se. Se concentrations tended to plateau after selenite-Se while after Semet-Se they continued to rise as long as dosing continued. Enzyme activity of one of four subjects supplemented daily with 500 microgram selenite-Se was unchanged, despite a great increase in plasma Se. Blood Se and GSH-Px of 23 New Zealand residents who ingest regular large doses (0.5 to 3 mg Se) mainly of selenite-Se showed that those who dosed weekly had greater values than the less frequent dosers. Three subjects showed extremely high values. It is suggested that each individual might have an optimal level of GSH-Px activity, so that the level reached is a balance between Se intake and other factors, including possible stressor effect of selenite.
1. A relationship was found between selenium concentrations and glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) activities in whole blood of 264 New Zealand residents (r 0.71, P < 0.001).2. New Zealand residents returning from visits overseas of 7 months to 3 years had elevated blood Se, but normal GSH-Px activities, whereas for some new settlers in New Zealand both Se and GSH-Px activities were high.
1. Erythrocyte, plasma and whole blood selenium concentrations and glutathione peroxidase (EC I.11. 1.9; GSHPx) activities were measured (1) in 104 healthy New Zealand residents living in Otago, a low-soil-Se area (2) in sixty-four surgical patients, including nineteen patients on total parenteral nutrition and twenty-three cancer patients (3) in fifty-two ‘overseas subjects’ (twenty-five visitors to Otago from outside New Zealand and twenty-seven Otago residents on return from overseas travel).2. Blood Se concentrations reflected dietary Se intake; means for Otago patients, healthy subjects and overseas subjects were different (0043, 0.059, 0.136 μg Se/ml blood respectively) and mean for overseas residents was greater than for New Zealand overseas travellers.3. Erythrocyte Se concentration was always greater than plasma Se, and plasma Se was a smaller pro- portion of erythrocyte Se for patients compared with the controls.4. GSHPx activities were different in the three groups, and vaned directly with erythrocyte Se until a plateau was reached at approximately 0.14 μg Se/ml erythrocytes.5. Overseas subjects showed no relationship between erythrocyte Se and GSHPx activity. This agrees with some overseas studies and the significance of this finding is discussed.6. Plasma Se concentration remained the most sensitive index of short-term changes in Se status, and erythrocyte Se and GSHPx activities for long-term changes in New Zealand subjects. Use of these measure- ments for overseas subjects with higher blood levels is discussed.
This study was carried out in Otago, South Island, where most arable land has a low soil selenium content (less than 0.5 microgram/g) and where selenium (Se) responsive diseases in livestock are common. Se concentration in whole blood, erythrocytes and plasma, and activity of glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) were measured in blood from 104 healthy Otago residents, 80 patients with cancer and 66 noncancer surgical patients. The older residents over 60 years had lower blood Se levels (0.047 +/- 0.010 microgram Se/ml blood) than the young and middle-aged (0.060 +/- 0.012 microgram Se/ml). Blood Se levels of cancer patients were no lower than those of elderly subjects and patients without cancer, and were less than half comparable United States values. Blood Se levels were decreasing in two cancer patients, and the lowest values (less than 0.03 microgram Se/ml blood) were obtained for five cancer patients, and two noncancer patients after a long period of inanition; these were similar to values for patients on parenteral nutrition with negligible intakes. Lower blood Se levels were associated with lower serum albumin and enzyme activities. It is suggested that low Se status of cancer patients was more likely a consequence of their illness than the cause of the cancer.
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