Department of Pharmacology, Biomedical Science Institute, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
Biofactors. 2010 Mar-Apr;36(2):153-8. doi: 10.1002/biof.81.
The element selenium (Se) was identified, nearly 40 years ago, as being essential in the nutrition of animals and humans. In addition, antitumorigenic effects of Se compounds have been described in a variety of in vitro and animal models, suggesting that supplemental Se in human diets may reduce cancer risk. Apparent mechanisms underlying the potential of Se compounds as cancer chemopreventive agents have been suggested. Some recent clinical trials, however, have shed doubt on the anticancer effects of Se. The contradictory findings and consequent controversy might be due to the lack of understanding of the mechanisms underlying Se biology. This article reviews current knowledge on this topic and addresses the disparate viewpoints on the chemopreventive effects of Se, the human populations.
大约 40 年前，人们发现元素硒（Se）对动物和人类的营养是必需的。此外，硒化合物的抗肿瘤作用已在各种体外和动物模型中得到描述，这表明补充硒可能会降低人类患癌症的风险。人们提出了硒化合物作为癌症化学预防剂的潜在机制。然而，一些最近的临床试验对硒的抗癌作用提出了质疑。这些相互矛盾的发现和由此产生的争议可能是由于缺乏对硒生物学机制的理解。本文综述了这一主题的最新知识，并探讨了硒在不同人群中的化学预防作用的不同观点。
