NATURAL SUPPLEMENTS WHICH MAY FIGHT EBOLA

[TBomb]

Ebola Can Be Prevented and Treated Naturally—So Why Are These Approaches Completely Ignored?

October 21, 2014

Microscopic view of the ebola virusCould it be because there is little profit to be made from them? Action Alert!

With Ebola panic taking hold of the country, we hear very little about the natural ways to prevent the disease or treat the patients.  This becomes even more important when you consider that these natural ways are less expensive and can often be self-administered. In addition, they often build up the immune system, and people susceptible to Ebola are more likely to have compromised immune systems.

 

 

As we discussed last month in our article on Ebola and natural remedies, the “Catch-22” of drug economics—that no one will spend the exorbitant sums needed to run clinical trials if the product can’t be patented and turned into a huge money-maker—practically ensures that natural treatments will be ignored.

 

 

The status quo in which government creates and protects drug company monopolies was always outrageous. Now with the threat of major and deadly pandemic in sight, it is completely unacceptable. It is essential that voters become aware of what is going on behind closed doors in Washington so they can speak up and move the political system—before millions of lives are needlessly lost and our economy also dealt a savage blow.

 

 

In our earlier article, we discussed how silver has been used as an antimicrobial for thousands of years and has the ability both to attack viruses and to inhibit their transmission. We also showed how intravenous vitamin C would be a tremendous benefit to patients in hospitals and clinics who have already contracted Ebola.

 

 

In addition to these approaches, some new research has uncovered other natural and effective treatments for Ebola:

 

According to an important study published in the Journal of Orthomolecular Medicine, the Ebola virus seems to be selenium-dependent—that is, the virus rapidly drains its host of the mineral selenium, making the patient vulnerable to high levels of oxidative stress, which in turn contributes to hemorrhaging and a breakdown of the immune system. Patients who are already selenium deficient—as people in developing nations often are, due to food and nutrition insufficiencies—are most vulnerable to Ebola.

 

Multiple studies have looked at selenium yeast—the organic form of selenium, which is superior in terms of bioavailability and metabolism when compared with inorganic forms of dietary selenium such as selenite—as having a profound impact on the incidence and progression of a variety of infectious and degenerative diseases. There is no question that selenium yeast is associated with increased ability to counteract oxidative stress.

 

Intravenous vitamin C may be useful in hospitals and clinics, but it isn’t offered there, and many patients won’t get that far or might not even be welcome if they did. Such patients might be given high doses of vitamin C in a liposome version—it is gentler on the body, and can be gotten to patients in rural areas where medical facilities may be lacking. Glutathione—also in a liposome version, if taken orally—helps recirculate vitamin C and helps strengthen the immune system. Liposomal forms of oral C are not a substitute for IV C, but any form of C could help tremendously if given to bowel tolerance.

 

Vitamin D is a vital necessity for our immune system to fight off viruses. Unfortunately, the darker one’s skin is—that is, the more melanin one has—the more sunlight one needs for the body to make its own vitamin D, so supplementation is critical. Megadoses would be indicated for patients who have already come in contact with the Ebola virus. Of course, at the moment, the dosages the government describes as megadoses barely get a patient into the upper range of “good” on a blood test. The current reference range in conventional medicine for adequate vitamin D in the blood is 30-100 ng/ml. Many people need 10,000 iu a day of supplemented D just to get above 60. Vitamin D in the blood is thought by many experts to be most antiviral around 70 ng/ml.

 

Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, can down-regulate the “cytokine storms” that are often the immediate cause of death from Ebola and other pandemic viruses. A cytokine storm is the potentially fatal immune reaction caused by a positive feedback loop between cytokines (small proteins that affect normal cell behavior) and white blood cells. The primary symptoms of a cytokine storm are high fever, swelling and redness, extreme fatigue, and nausea.

 

In addition to curcumin, omega-3 fatty acids can also down-regulate the cytokine storm.

Other natural antivirals being studied include zinc, vitamins A and B12 (the latter as an adjunct to other antiviral therapies), and melatonin. Some of the best integrative doctors consulted by ANH-USA recommend vitamin A at high doses (over 100,000 iu a day) for its direct antiviral properties.

 

ANH-USA staff know a patient who had ultraviolet blood irradiation in conjunction with intravenous peroxide (among other things) for Lyme and viral co-infections several years ago, and it was very effective. The treatment was used in the 1940s and ’50s, though it is very difficult to find information on it as the FDA considers it illegal!

 

Given its mechanism of action, this treatment may be effective for Ebola. Ozone taken intravenously or rectally is also likely to work, but faces similar government hostility since it would threaten existing drug monopolies. In a related article, we discuss the use of ultraviolet therapy in a medical device to disinfect hospitals of Ebola.

Action Alert! Write to both FDA and Congress. Ask them to permit natural treatments for Ebola without the lengthy drug approval process.

 

 

Send your message today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.fotolia.com'>Fotolia.com</a>

 

Your body needs certain elements in very small amounts. These elements are called "trace elements." Selenium is a trace element. Some people do not get enough selenium and wish to take a selenium supplement. Selenium yeast is a dietary supplement that is used to increase the amounts of selenium in your diet. It is important to remember, however, that trace elements are essential in small amounts, but they can be toxic at high levels.
History

 

In 1957, a specific organic factor isolated from yeast was found to prevent a liver disease in rats apparently caused by selenium deficiency. That factor was later determined to be a selenium-containing amino acid known as selenomethionine. In the early 1970s, inorganic selenium-containing compounds, sodium selenite and sodium selenate, were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use as feed additives. Unfortunately, these inorganic selenium salts were less effective than the organic selenium factor isolated from yeast. At that point, Universal Foods, a leading producer of food yeast, developed a process for producing selenium-enriched yeast. These selenium-rich yeasts were available for purchase in 1974. As of 2010, selenium yeast supplements are produced by many manufacturers providing selenium supplementation, not only for farm animals, but also for humans as well.

 

 

Commercial selenium yeast supplements contain from about 1,000 to 2,000 micrograms of selenium per gram of supplement. This selenium is in the form of selenomethionine, a specific selenium-containing amino acid. All amino acids occur in two different three-dimensional forms: an "L" form and a "D" form, which are essentially mirror images of each other. The human body can only metabolize the L-amino acid form. Synthetic selenomethionine supplements are also available, but they are slightly less effective than yeast-selenium. While synthetic versions contain more than 90 percent selenomethionine in the L-form, they also contain some selenomethionine in the D-form. Synthetic selenomethionine, containing mixtures of L- and D-forms, are suitable for use in animal feeds, but selenium yeast is preferable for human supplementation.

 

Quality Concerns

 

The quality of selenium supplements over the years has been questionable. Some selenium yeast products have been found to contain inorganic selenium instead of selenomethionine. Other supplement products contain "selenium proteinates" or "selenium amino acid chelates," which are chemically ill-defined. Supplements that contain both sodium selenite, an inorganic form of selenium, along and vitamin C may react with each other, causing the formation of elemental selenium, which may not be as beneficial to the body as the selenomethionine provided by selenium yeast.

 

Infants and Nursing Mothers

 

Although the benefits of selenium yeast for providing supplemental selenium are well known, many infant formulas, protein mixes and weight loss products still use inorganic sodium selenite or sodium selenate. Organic selenomethionine from selenium yeast is metabolized and utilized much more efficiently than the inorganic selenium salts. Selenium yeast supplements are both safe and effective for use, even in pre-term infants and nursing mothers.

 

Safety

 

The recommended dose for selenium for an average adult weighing 154 pounds is about 350 micrograms. A supplemental dose of 200 micrograms of selenium would increase the average selenium intake to about 280 micrograms per day, well-within the recommended amount. However, even prolonged exposure of up to 850 micrograms has not produced adverse effects. The lowest average daily selenium intake that could cause individuals to develop overt signs of toxicity is believed to be about 1,000 to 2,000 micrograms per day, but only after weeks or months of over-exposure. This would be quite rare and has only been seen with individuals taking inorganic selenium supplements, not with selenium yeast or selenomethionine products.

 

The European Community Scientific Committee on Food at one point did suggest that selenium yeast supplements are poorly characterized and can cause build-up of toxic selenium levels in tissues. However, these concerns were laid to rest in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2004, when a review of about one dozen supplementation studies showed no evidence of toxicity, even up to an intake level of 800 micrograms of selenium per day over a period of years.

 

 

http://www.livestrong.com/article/229192-what-is-selenium-yeast/

 

ALSO - PLEASE CHECK OUT INFORMATION  ON MELATONIN 

 

 

J Pineal Res. 2014 Nov;57(4):381-4. doi: 10.1111/jpi.12186. Epub 2014 Oct 14.
Ebola virus disease: potential use of melatonin as a treatment.
Tan DX1, Korkmaz A, Reiter RJ, Manchester LC.
Author information
Abstract
The purpose of this report is to emphasize the potential utility for the use of melatonin in the treatment of individuals who are infected with the Ebola virus. The pathological changes associated with an Ebola infection include, most notably, endothelial disruption, disseminated intravascular coagulation and multiple organ hemorrhage. Melatonin has been shown to target these alterations. Numerous similarities between Ebola virus infection and septic shock have been recognized for more than a decade. Moreover, melatonin has been successfully employed for the treatment of sepsis in many experimental and clinical studies. Based on these factors, as the number of treatments currently available is limited and the useable products are not abundant, the use of melatonin for the treatment of Ebola virus infection is encouraged. Additionally, melatonin has a high safety profile, is readily available and can be orally self-administered; thus, the use of melatonin is compatible with the large scale of this serious outbreak.
 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25262626

 

THIS INFO IS FROM THE US GOVT AND AS SUCH, PLEASE COMPARE INFORMATION FOR RECOMMENDED INTAKE OF SELENIUM TO THE ABOVE DOSING INFO - THE US GOVT IS GENERALLY HIGHLY CONSERVATIVE WHEN GIVING RECOMMENDATIONS (AND FROM MY WORK AS A HEALER, I'VE FOUND PEOPLE CAN USUALLY BETTER BENEFIT BY INCREASED DOSING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WATER SOLUBLE SUPPLEMENTS, LIKE VITAMIN B AND C, ETC. I AM NOT A DOCTOR - PLEASE CONSULT WITH A PHYSICIAN FOR RE ANY CONCERNS)

 

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Selenium-HealthProfessional/

 

 

Selenium
Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet
Introduction

Selenium is a trace element that is naturally present in many foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. Selenium, which is nutritionally essential for humans, is a constituent of more than two dozen selenoproteins that play critical roles in reproduction, thyroid hormone metabolism, DNA synthesis, and protection from oxidative damage and infection [1].
Selenium exists in two forms: inorganic (selenate and selenite) and organic (selenomethionine and selenocysteine) [2]. Both forms can be good dietary sources of selenium [3]. Soils contain inorganic selenites and selenates that plants accumulate and convert to organic forms, mostly selenocysteine and selenomethionine and their methylated derivatives.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Recommended Intakes
Sources of Selenium
Selenium Intakes and Status
Selenium Deficiency
Groups at Risk of Selenium Inadequacy
Selenium and Health
Health Risks from Excessive Selenium
Interactions with Medications
Selenium and Healthful Diets
References
Disclaimer
Most selenium is in the form of selenomethionine in animal and human tissues, where it can be incorporated nonspecifically with the amino acid methionine in body proteins. Skeletal muscle is the major site of selenium storage, accounting for approximately 28% to 46% of the total selenium pool [3]. Both selenocysteine and selenite are reduced to generate hydrogen selenide, which in turn is converted to selenophosphate for selenoprotein biosynthesis [4].
The most commonly used measures of selenium status are plasma and serum selenium concentrations [1]. Concentrations in blood and urine reflect recent selenium intake. Analyses of hair or nail selenium content can be used to monitor longer-term intakes over months or years. Quantification of one or more selenoproteins (such as glutathione peroxidase and selenoprotein P) is also used as a functional measure of selenium status [3]. Plasma or serum selenium concentrations of 8 micrograms (mcg)/dL or higher in healthy people typically meet needs for selenoprotein synthesis [5].
Recommended Intakes

Intake recommendations for selenium and other nutrients are provided in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) developed by the Food and Nutrition Board (FNB) at the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (formerly National Academy of Sciences) [6]. DRI is the general term for a set of reference values used for planning and assessing nutrient intakes of healthy people. These values, which vary by age and sex, include:
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%–98%) healthy individuals.
Adequate Intake (AI): established when evidence is insufficient to develop an RDA and is set at a level assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy.
Estimated Average Requirement (EAR): average daily level of intake estimated to meet the requirements of 50% of healthy individuals. It is usually used to assess the adequacy of nutrient intakes in population groups but not individuals.
Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL): maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects.
Table 1 lists the current RDAs for selenium in mcg. For infants from birth to 12 months, the FNB established an AI for selenium that is equivalent to the mean intake of selenium in healthy, breastfed infants.
Table 1: Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for Selenium [6]
Age Male Female Pregnancy Lactation
Birth to 6 months 15 mcg* 15 mcg*   
7–12 months 20 mcg* 20 mcg*   
1–3 years 20 mcg 20 mcg   
4–8 years 30 mcg 30 mcg   
9–13 years 40 mcg 40 mcg   
14–18 years 55 mcg 55 mcg 60 mcg 70 mcg
19–50 years 55 mcg 55 mcg 60 mcg 70 mcg
51+ years 55 mcg 55 mcg   
*Adequate Intake (AI)
Sources of Selenium

Food

Seafoods and organ meats are the richest food sources of selenium [1]. Other sources include muscle meats, cereals and other grains, and dairy products. The amount of selenium in drinking water is not nutritionally significant in most geographic regions [2,6]. The major food sources of selenium in the American diet are breads, grains, meat, poultry, fish, and eggs [7].
The amount of selenium in a given type of plant-based food depends on the amount of selenium in the soil and several other factors, such as soil pH, amount of organic matter in the soil, and whether the selenium is in a form that is amenable to plant uptake [2,6,8,9]. As a result, selenium concentrations in plant-based foods vary widely by geographic location [1,2]. For example, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Composition Database, Brazil nuts have 544 mcg selenium/ounce, but values from other analyses vary widely [10-12].
The selenium content of soil affects the amounts of selenium in the plants that animals eat, so the quantities of selenium in animal products also vary [2,5]. However, selenium concentration in soil has a smaller effect on selenium levels in animal products than in plant-based foods because animals maintain predictable tissue concentrations of selenium through homeostatic mechanisms. Furthermore, formulated livestock feeds generally contain the same levels of selenium.
Several food sources of selenium are listed in Table 2.
Table 2: Selected Food Sources of Selenium [10]
Food Micrograms
(mcg) per
serving Percent
DV*
Brazil nuts, 1 ounce (6–8 nuts) 544 777
Tuna, yellowfin, cooked, dry heat, 3 ounces 92 131
Halibut, cooked, dry heat, 3 ounces 47 67
Sardines, canned in oil, drained solids with bone, 3 ounces 45 64
Ham, roasted, 3 ounces 42 60
Shrimp, canned, 3 ounces 40 57
Macaroni, enriched, cooked, 1 cup 37 53
Beef steak, bottom round, roasted, 3 ounces 33 47
Turkey, boneless, roasted, 3 ounces 31 44
Beef liver, pan fried, 3 ounces 28 40
Chicken, light meat, roasted, 3 ounces 22 31
Cottage cheese, 1% milkfat, 1 cup 20 29
Rice, brown, long-grain, cooked, 1 cup 19 27
Beef, ground, 25% fat, broiled, 3 ounces 18 26
Egg, hard-boiled, 1 large 15 21
Puffed wheat ready-to-eat cereal, fortified, 1 cup 15 21
Bread, whole-wheat, 1 slice 13 19
Baked beans, canned, plain or vegetarian, 1 cup 13 19
Oatmeal, regular and quick, unenriched, cooked with water, 1 cup 13 19
Spinach, frozen, boiled, 1 cup 11 16
Milk, 1% fat, 1 cup 8 11
Yogurt, plain, low fat, 1 cup 8 11
Lentils, boiled, 1 cup 6 9
Bread, white, 1 slice 6 9
Spaghetti sauce, marinara, 1 cup 4 6
Cashew nuts, dry roasted, 1 ounce 3 4
Corn flakes, 1 cup 2 3
Green peas, frozen, boiled, 1 cup 2 3
Bananas, sliced, 1 cup 2 3
Potato, baked, flesh and skin, 1 potato 1 1
Peaches, canned in water, solids and liquids, 1 cup 1 1
Carrots, raw, 1 cup 0 0
Lettuce, iceberg, raw, 1 cup 0 0
*DV = Daily Value. DVs were developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to help consumers compare the nutrient contents of products within the context of a total diet. The DV for selenium is 70 mcg for adults and children aged 4 and older. Foods providing 20% or more of the DV are considered to be high sources of a nutrient. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Nutrient Databaseexternal link icon Web site [10] lists the nutrient content of many foods and provides a comprehensive list of foods containing selenium arranged by nutrient content and by food name.
Dietary Supplements

Selenium is available in multivitamin/multimineral supplements and as a stand-alone supplement, often in the forms of selenomethionine or of selenium-enriched yeast (grown in a high-selenium medium) or as sodium selenite or sodium selenate [2,5,6]. The human body absorbs more than 90% of selenomethionine but only about 50% of selenium from selenite [6].
Few studies have compared the relative absorption and bioavailability of different forms of selenium. In one investigation, 10 groups of selenium-replete subjects were randomly assigned to receive a placebo or either 200 or 600 mcg/day selenium as selenomethionine, sodium selenite, or high-selenium yeast (in which an estimated 75% of selenium was in the form of selenomethionine) for 16 weeks [13]. Selenium bioavailability, based on urinary excretion, was greatest for selenomethionine and lowest for selenite. However, supplementation with any of these forms only affected plasma selenium levels and not glutathione peroxidase activity or selenoprotein P concentration, confirming that study participants were selenium replete before they began taking selenium supplements.
Selenium Intakes and Status

Most Americans consume adequate amounts of selenium. According to an analysis of data from the 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the average daily selenium intake in Americans aged 2 years and older from foods is 108.5 mcg and from both foods and supplements is 120.8 mcg [14]. Adult men have higher daily intakes (134 mcg from foods and 151 mcg from foods and supplements) than adult women (93 mcg from foods and 108 mcg from foods and supplements). In the United States, 18% to 19% of adults and children use a dietary supplement containing selenium [15].
According to an analysis of NHANES data from 2003–2004, the mean serum selenium concentration in U.S. adults aged 40 years or older is 13.67 mcg/dL [16]. Men have slightly higher serum selenium levels than women, and whites have higher levels than African Americans [16-18].
Selenium intakes and serum concentrations in the United States and Canada vary somewhat by region because of differences in the amounts of selenium in soil and in local foods consumed [6,19]. For example, concentrations are higher in residents of the Midwestern and Western United States than in the South and Northeast [18,19]. The extensive transport of food typically allows people living in low-selenium areas to obtain sufficient amounts of selenium [6].
Selenium Deficiency

Selenium deficiency produces biochemical changes that might predispose people who experience additional stresses to develop certain illnesses [6]. For example, selenium deficiency in combination with a second stress (possibly a viral infection) leads to Keshan disease, a cardiomyopathy that occurred in parts of China prior to a government-sponsored selenium supplementation program that began in the 1970s [2,5,8,20]. Before the Chinese government supplementation program, adults in the Keshan disease areas had average selenium intakes of no more than 11 mcg/day; intakes of at least 20 mcg/day protect adults from Keshan disease [6].
Selenium deficiency is also associated with male infertility and might play a role in Kashin-Beck disease, a type of osteoarthritis that occurs in certain low-selenium areas of China, Tibet, and Siberia [1,2,5,6,8,21]. Selenium deficiency could exacerbate iodine deficiency, potentially increasing the risk of cretinism in infants [2,5].
Groups at Risk of Selenium Inadequacy

Selenium deficiency is very rare in the United States and Canada, and selenium deficiency in isolation rarely causes overt illness [6]. The following groups are among those most likely to have inadequate intakes of selenium.
People living in selenium-deficient regions

Selenium intakes in North America, even in low-selenium regions, are well above the RDA [18,19]. However, people in some other countries whose diet consists primarily of vegetables grown in low-selenium areas are at risk of deficiency [6]. The lowest selenium intakes in the world are in certain parts of China, where large proportions of the population have a primarily vegetarian diet and soil selenium levels are very low [5]. Average selenium intakes are also low in some European countries, especially among populations consuming vegan diets [5,9,22]. Although intakes in New Zealand were low in the past, they rose after the country increased its importation of high-selenium wheat [9].
People undergoing kidney dialysis

Selenium levels are significantly lower in patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis than in healthy individuals. Hemodialysis removes some selenium from the blood [23]. In addition, hemodialysis patients are at risk of low dietary selenium intakes due to anorexia resulting from uremia and dietary restrictions. Although selenium supplementation increases blood levels in hemodialysis patients, more evidence is needed to determine whether supplements have beneficial clinical effects in these individuals.
People living with HIV

Selenium levels are often low in people living with HIV, possibly because of inadequate intakes (especially in developing countries), excessive losses due to diarrhea, and malabsorption [2,24]. Observational studies have found an association between lower selenium concentrations in people with HIV and an increased risk of cardiomyopathy, death, and, in pregnant women, HIV transmission to offspring and early death of offspring [25-29]. Some randomized clinical trials of selenium supplementation in adults with HIV have found that selenium supplementation can reduce the risk of hospitalization and prevent increases of HIV-1 viral load; preventing HIV-1 viral load progression can lead to increases in numbers of CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell that fights infection [30,31]. However, one trial showed that selenium supplementation in pregnant women can prevent early death in infants but has no effects on maternal viral load or CD4 counts [32,33].
Selenium and Health

This section focuses on four diseases and disorders in which selenium might play a role: cancer, cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and thyroid disease.
Cancer

Because of its effects on DNA repair, apoptosis, and the endocrine and immune systems as well as other mechanisms, including its antioxidant properties, selenium might play a role in the prevention of cancer [2,9,34,35].
Epidemiological studies have suggested an inverse association between selenium status and the risk of colorectal, prostate, lung, bladder, skin, esophageal, and gastric cancers [36]. In a Cochrane review of selenium and cancer prevention studies, compared with the lowest category of selenium intake, the highest intake category had a 31% lower cancer risk and 45% lower cancer mortality risk as well as a 33% lower risk of bladder cancer and, in men, 22% lower risk of prostate cancer [36]. The authors found no association between selenium intake and risk of breast cancer. A meta-analysis of 20 epidemiologic studies showed a potential inverse association between toenail, serum, and plasma selenium levels and prostate cancer risk [37].
Randomized controlled trials of selenium supplementation for cancer prevention have yielded conflicting results. The authors of a Cochrane review concluded, based on nine randomized clinical trials, that selenium might help prevent gastrointestinal cancers but noted that these results need to be confirmed in more appropriately designed randomized clinical trials [38]. A secondary analysis of the double-blind, randomized, controlled Nutritional Prevention of Cancer Trial in 1,312 U.S. adults with a history of basal cell or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin found that 200 mcg/day selenium as high-selenium baker’s yeast for 6 years was associated with a 52% to 65% lower risk of prostate cancer [39]. This effect was strongest in men in the lowest tertile of selenium concentrations who had a baseline prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of 4 ng/mL or lower. The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT), a randomized, controlled trial in 35,533 men aged 50 years or older from the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, was discontinued after 5.5 years when analyses showed no association between supplementation with 200 mcg/day selenium with or without 400 international units (IU)/day vitamin E and prostate cancer risk [40]. An additional 1.5 years of follow-up data on participants after they stopped taking the study supplements confirmed the lack of a significant association between selenium supplementation and prostate cancer risk [41].
In 2003, the FDA allowed a qualified health claim on foods and dietary supplements containing selenium to state that while "some scientific evidence suggests that consumption of selenium may reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer... FDA has determined that this evidence is limited and not conclusive" [42]. More research is needed to confirm the relationship between selenium concentrations and cancer risk and to determine whether selenium supplements can help prevent any form of cancer.
Cardiovascular disease

Selenoproteins help prevent the oxidative modification of lipids, reducing inflammation and preventing platelets from aggregating [9]. For these reasons, experts have suggested that selenium supplements could reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease or deaths associated with cardiovascular disease.
The epidemiological data on the role of selenium in cardiovascular disease have yielded conflicting conclusions. Some observational studies have found an inverse association between serum selenium concentrations and risk of hypertension or coronary heart disease. A meta-analysis of 25 observational studies found that people with lower selenium concentrations had a higher risk of coronary heart disease [43]. However, other observational studies failed to find statistically significant links between selenium concentrations and risk of heart disease or cardiac death, or they found that higher selenium concentrations are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease [44-46].
Several clinical trials have examined whether selenium supplementation reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. In one randomized, placebo-controlled study, for example, 474 healthy adults aged 60 to 74 years with a mean baseline plasma selenium concentration of 9.12 mcg/dL were supplemented with 100, 200, or 300 mcg selenium per day or placebo for 6 months [47]. The supplements lowered levels of total plasma cholesterol and non–high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) plasma cholesterol (total cholesterol levels minus HDL levels) compared with the placebo group, whereas the 300 mcg/day dose significantly increased HDL levels. Other trials have provided evidence that selenium supplementation (200 mcg/day) or supplementation with a multivitamin/multimineral pill containing selenium (100 mcg/day) does not reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease or cardiac death [48-50]. A review of trials of selenium-only supplementation for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease found no statistically significant effects of selenium on fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events [51]. Almost all of the subjects in these clinical trials were well-nourished male adults in the United States.
The limited clinical-trial evidence to date does not support the use of selenium supplements for preventing heart disease, particularly in healthy people who already obtain sufficient selenium from food. Additional clinical trials are needed to better understand the contributions of selenium from food and dietary supplements to cardiovascular health.
Cognitive decline

Serum selenium concentrations decline with age. Marginal or deficient selenium concentrations might be associated with age-related declines in brain function, possibly due to decreases in selenium’s antioxidant activity [52,53].
The results of observational studies are mixed [54]. In two large studies, participants with lower plasma selenium levels at baseline were more likely to experience cognitive decline over time, although whether the participants in these studies were selenium deficient is not clear [52,55,56]. An analysis of NHANES data on 4,809 elderly people in the United States found no association between serum selenium levels (which ranged from lower than 11.3 to higher than 13.5 mcg/dL) and memory test scores [57].
Researchers have evaluated whether taking an antioxidant supplement containing selenium reduces the risk of cognitive impairment in elderly people. An analysis of data from the Supplémentation en Vitamines et Minéraux Antioxydants (SU.VI.MAX) study on 4,447 participants aged 45 to 60 years in France found that, compared with placebo, daily supplementation with 120 mg ascorbic acid, 30 mg vitamin E, 6 mg beta-carotene, 100 mcg selenium, and 20 mg zinc for 8 years was associated with higher episodic memory and semantic fluency test scores 6 years after the study ended [58]. However, selenium’s independent contribution to the observed effects in this study cannot be determined. The authors of a systematic review that included nine placebo-controlled studies concluded that the available clinical evidence is insufficient to determine whether selenium supplements can prevent Alzheimer’s disease [54].
More evidence is required to determine whether selenium supplements might help prevent or treat cognitive decline in elderly people.
Thyroid disease

Selenium concentration is higher in the thyroid gland than in any other organ in the body, and, like iodine, selenium has important functions in thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism.
Epidemiological evidence supporting a relationship between selenium levels and thyroid gland function includes an analysis of data on 1,900 participants in the SU.VI.MAX study indicating an inverse relationship between serum selenium concentrations and thyroid volume, risk of goiter, and risk of thyroid tissue damage in people with mild iodine deficiency [59]. However, these results were statistically significant only in women. A cross-sectional study in 805 adults with mild iodine deficiency in Denmark also found a significant inverse association between serum selenium concentration and thyroid volume in women [60].
Randomized, controlled trials of selenium supplementation in patients with thyroid disease have had varied results. In one randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 100, 200, or 300 mcg/day selenium for 6 months in 368 healthy adults aged 60 to 74 years had no effect on thyroid function, even though plasma selenium levels increased significantly [61]. Another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial compared the effects of 200 mcg/day selenium (as sodium selenite), 1,200 mg/day pentoxifylline (an antiinflammatory agent), or placebo for 6 months in 159 patients with mild Graves’ orbitopathy [62]. Compared with patients treated with placebo, those treated with selenium but not pentoxifylline reported a higher quality of life. Furthermore, ophthalmic outcomes improved in 61% of patients in the selenium group compared with 36% of those in the placebo group, and only 7% of the selenium group had mild progression of the disease, compared with 26% of those in the placebo group.
Women with thyroid peroxidase antibodies tend to develop hypothyroxinemia while they are pregnant and thyroid dysfunction and hypothyroidism after giving birth [9]. The authors of a Cochrane review of hypothyroidism interventions during pregnancy concluded, based on a trial that administered supplements containing 200 mcg selenium as selenomethionine daily to 151 pregnant women with thyroid peroxidase antibodies [63], that selenomethionine supplementation in this population is a promising strategy, especially for reducing postpartum thyroiditis [64]. However, the authors called for large randomized clinical trials to provide high-quality evidence of this effect.
Additional research is needed to determine whether selenium supplements can help prevent or treat thyroid disease.
Health Risks from Excessive Selenium

Chronically high intakes of the organic and inorganic forms of selenium have similar effects [6]. Early indicators of excess intake are a garlic odor in the breath and a metallic taste in the mouth. The most common clinical signs of chronically high selenium intakes, or selenosis, are hair and nail loss or brittleness. Other symptoms include lesions of the skin and nervous system, nausea, diarrhea, skin rashes, mottled teeth, fatigue, irritability, and nervous system abnormalities.
As discussed earlier, Brazil nuts contain very high amounts of selenium (68–91 mcg per nut) and could cause selenium toxicity if consumed regularly. Acute selenium toxicity has resulted from the ingestion of misformulated over-the-counter products containing very large amounts of selenium [2,5]. In 2008, for example, 201 people experienced severe adverse reactions from taking a liquid dietary supplement containing 200 times the labeled amount [65]. Acute selenium toxicity can cause severe gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms, acute respiratory distress syndrome, myocardial infarction, hair loss, muscle tenderness, tremors, lightheadedness, facial flushing, kidney failure, cardiac failure, and, in rare cases, death [2,6].
The FNB has established ULs for selenium from food and supplements based on the amounts of selenium that are associated with hair and nail brittleness and loss (see Table 3) [6].
Table 3: Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (ULs) for Selenium [6]*
Age Male Female Pregnancy Lactation
Birth to 6 months 45 mcg 45 mcg   
7–12 months 60 mcg 60 mcg   
1–3 years 90 mcg 90 mcg   
4–8 years 150 mcg 150 mcg   
9–13 years 280 mcg 280 mcg   
14–18 years 400 mcg 400 mcg 400 mcg 400 mcg
19+ years 400 mcg 400 mcg 400 mcg 400 mcg
*Breast milk, formula, and food should be the only sources of selenium for infants.
Interactions with Medications

Selenium can interact with certain medications, and some medications can have an adverse effect on selenium levels. One example is provided below. Individuals taking this and other medications on a regular basis should discuss their selenium status with their health care providers.
Cisplatin

Cisplatin, an inorganic platinum chemotherapy agent, is used to treat ovarian, bladder, lung, and other cancers. Cisplatin can reduce selenium levels in hair and serum but whether these reductions have a clinically significant impact is not known [66,67]. Some small studies have shown that selenium supplementation can reduce cisplatin’s toxicity [68] but the authors of a Cochrane review concluded that the evidence that selenium supplementation alleviates the side effects of chemotherapy is insufficient [69].
Selenium and Healthful Diets

The federal government’s 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans notes that "nutrients should come primarily from foods. Foods in nutrient-dense, mostly intact forms contain not only the essential vitamins and minerals that are often contained in nutrient supplements, but also dietary fiber and other naturally occurring substances that may have positive health effects. … Dietary supplements…may be advantageous in specific situations to increase intake of a specific vitamin or mineral" [70].
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans describes a healthy diet as one that:
Emphasizes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products.
Many whole grains and dairy products, including milk and yogurt, are good sources of selenium. Some ready-to-eat breakfast cereals are fortified with selenium, and some fruits and vegetables contain selenium.
Includes lean meats, poultry, seafood, beans and peas, eggs, and nuts and seeds.
Pork, beef, turkey, chicken, fish, shellfish, and eggs contain high amounts of selenium. Some beans and nuts, especially Brazil nuts, contain selenium.
Limits solid fats (saturated fats and trans fats), cholesterol, salt (sodium), added sugars, and refined grains.
Stays within your calorie needs.
For more information about building a healthful diet, refer to the Dietary Guidelines for Americansexternal link icon and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food guidance system, MyPlateexternal link icon.

"Are there any other special considerations?
It is best to take selenium and vitamin E together as they facilitate each other's absorption. Gastrointestinal disorders such as Crohn's disease may block selenium absorption. Avoid taking inorganic forms, such as selenium selenite, which adversely interacts with Vitamin C and other nutrients."

 

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02870/selenium.html

[tankdude]

Looks like the death rate of Ebola  could be cut fairly effectively with some simple steps.  I say simple - not easy

 

Hydration helps Nigeria beat Ebola outbreak

 

ABUJA, Nigeria — Water laced with salt and sugar, and gallons of the nasty-tasting stuff.

Doctors who survived Ebola in Nigeria credited heavy doses of fluids with saving their lives as the World Health Organization declared the country Ebola-free Monday, a rare victory in the battle against the disease that is ravaging West Africa.

In the end, Nigeria — the most populous country in Africa, with 160 million people — had just 20 cases, including eight deaths, a lower death rate than the 70 percent seen elsewhere across the stricken region.

Officials are crediting strong tracking and isolation of people exposed to the virus, and aggressive rehydration of infected patients to counter the effects of vomiting, diarrhea and other symptoms.

Nigeria’s containment of Ebola is a “spectacular success story,” said Rui Gama Vaz, WHO director for Nigeria.

Dr. Adaora Igonoh, a survivor, said the treatment is not easy. It entails drinking, as she did, at least 1.3 gallons of the solution every day for five or six days when you have mouth sores and a sore throat and feel depressed.

“You don’t want to drink anything. You’re too weak, and with the sore throat it’s difficult to swallow, but you know when you have just vomited, you need it,” she told The Associated Press.

 

The eight deaths included two doctors and a nurse.

 

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/metro/20141020-hydration-helps-nigeria-beat-ebola-outbreak.ece

[rockfl9]

EBOLA is a virus. It doesn't differentiate. You can get it even if super healthy. Diligence and sanitation are the best safeguards.

I don't ingest any type of chemicals.