Supplementation with Selenium Can Influence Nausea, Fatigue, Physical, Renal, and Liver Function of Children and Adolescents with Cancer

Abstract

The drugs used in chemotherapy treatments have little specificity, attack tumor cells, and also injure proliferative tissues. Knowledge of the functions of micronutrients has greatly increased, especially of Selenium (Se) that presents immunomodulatory and antitumor functions. The present study evaluated the health-related quality of life of patients undergoing chemotherapy for the treatment of leukemias and lymphomas (LL) and solid tumors (ST) while receiving Selenium (Se) supplementation. This is a randomized, double-blind, crossover study that evaluated the quality of life (EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire), renal and liver functions of patients supplemented with Se. There was no statistically significant alteration in LL patients. However, the fatigue and nausea scores after 30 days did decrease in this group as well as in the ST group. After 1 year supplementation with Selenium, a more noticeable decrease in the scores concerning fatigue and nausea could be observed in the ST group, when compared with the beginning of the study. The LL patients also presented a decrease in the fatigue scores and physical functions. The kidney function as well as liver function has improved after Selenium supplementation when compared with the placebo intake in LL and ST patients, more remarkably in the LL group. Supplementation with Selenium promotes the reduction of chemotherapy side effects in cancer patients, especially by improving the conditions of patients with fatigue, nausea, and impaired physical function. Renal and liver functions have also improved.

Impact of Selenium Supplementation in Neutropenia and Immunoglobulin Production in Childhood Cancer Patients

“…The decrease of these biochemical markers (nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity) end up determining improved health quality of patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. 18 Studies in mice corroborate the findings obtained with human studies, in which it is clear that Se deficiency influences the levels and activity of liver enzymes directly linked to diseases resulting from oxidative stress and detoxification of carcinogens. 19 Found and stored in significant amounts in tissues such as the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, plasmatic levels of selenium can influence the activation ability and quality of the cellular immune response (e.g., lymphocyte proliferation, response to mitogens, macrophage activation, synthesis of leukotriene B4, chemotaxis of neutrophils) and humoral immune response, decreasing the amounts of IgM, IgG, and IgA (murine models), and IgG and IgM (human studies).…”

Renal cell carcinoma risk associated with lower intake of micronutrients

“…Selenium plays critical roles in major metabolic pathways, and is an essential element to protect the body from harmful substances. Recent studies demonstrated that selenium supplementation reduces side effects from chemotherapy and improves kidney and liver functions in cancer patients 16, 19, 20. Analysis of selenium intake by participants in our study revealed inverse associations with RCC risk for both EA and AA, with greater protective effects among AA.…”

“…Intake of dietary E vitamins, including α‐, β‐, δ‐, and γ‐tocopherol, is suggested to be chemo‐preventative 16. Supplementation with selenium may influence RCC risk, and selenium has been shown to possess anti‐tumor functions 17, 18, 19, 20. Diets rich in carotenoids, including α‐carotene, β‐carotene, β‐cryptoxanthin, lutein zeaxanthin, and lycopene, have been associated with lower RCC risk 6, 21, 22, 23.…”

Vitamine und Spurenelemente in der Onkologie

“…Zum Einsatz von Selen liegen nur kleine randomisierte, jedoch nicht verblindete und nicht placebokontrollierte Studien vor [3,48]. Diese zeigen einen positiven Einfluss auf verschiedene Nebenwirkungen antineoplastischer Therapien, wie z.…”