Mineral insufficiency and cancer

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Nutritional Science
• Oncology

Background:

• Dietary antioxidants, including antioxidant minerals (selenium, manganese, copper, zinc) and vitamins (A, E, C) plus beta-carotene, play a role in preventing cellular damage.
• Activated oxygen metabolites are implicated in tissue damage and disease processes, including cancer.
• Understanding the biochemical pathways of oxidative stress is crucial for cancer prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the theoretical basis for antioxidant minerals in cancer prevention.
• To review the biochemical mechanisms by which antioxidant minerals and other antioxidants protect against oxygen metabolite-induced tissue damage.
• To evaluate the evidence for the role of antioxidant minerals in preventing carcinogenesis.

Main Methods:

• Biochemical pathway analysis of antioxidant functions.
• Review of animal model studies on carcinogenesis and antioxidant intervention.
• Synthesis of epidemiological data on selenium intake and human cancer risk.

Main Results:

• Theoretical models support the involvement of antioxidant minerals in preventing cancer initiation.
• Evidence from animal models indicates that antioxidant minerals, particularly selenium, can inhibit carcinogenesis.
• Emerging epidemiological data strongly suggest that low selenium intake is a risk factor for human cancers.

Conclusions:

• Antioxidant minerals possess biochemical properties that suggest a role in cancer prevention.
• Selenium, in particular, shows promise in preclinical models for cancer prevention.
• Low selenium status is identified as a potential risk factor in human cancer aetiology, warranting further investigation.