Selenium yeast supplementation administered concurrently with chemotherapy and radiation therapy effectively increased blood selenium levels in cervical cancer patients with inadequate selenium status. The selenium yeast supplementation was used as an adjuvant treatment to the standard chemotherapy and radiation therapy. It significantly decreased the hematologic toxicity of the chemoradiotherapy [Yang 2023].
All patients in both groups received the standard treatment including pelvic external irradiation, concurrent five cycles of chemotherapy, and brachytherapy [Yang 2023].
Note: Brachytherapy is radiation therapy with the source of radiation positioned close to the surface of the body or within a body cavity.
Effect of the Selenium Supplementation on Blood Selenium Status
At baseline, the two groups in the study had similar low blood selenium status:
- Treatment group: 58 mcg/L
- Control group: 60 mcg/L
Note: Blood selenium levels below 70 mcg/L are deficiency levels [Al-Mubarak 2021].
Following the five-week selenium yeast supplementation, the researchers recorded the following blood selenium levels:
- Treatment group: 76 mcg/L
- Control group: 57 mcg/L
The difference between the two groups was statistically significant [Yang 2023].
Effect of the Selenium Supplementation on Blood Toxicity
The selenium yeast treatment significantly decreased the incidence of grade 3 myelosuppression (48% vs. 63%) compared to the placebo treatment [Yang 2023].
Note: Myelosuppression refers to the chemotherapy adverse effect that results in reduced bone marrow activity that results in lower concentrations of platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells.
In a subgroup of patients with moderately well-differentiated cervical cancer, the researchers noted that the incidence of thrombocytopenia caused by the chemoradiotherapy was significantly lower in the selenium yeast treatment experimental group compared to the control group (53.8% vs. 78.9%) [Yang 2023].
Note: Thrombocytopenia refers to abnormally low numbers of platelets in the blood.
Effect of the Selenium Supplementation on Kidney and Liver Function
During the course of the study, the researchers did not observe any damage to the kidneys nor any adverse effects in the liver in the selenium yeast treatment group [Yang 2023].
In addition, they did not see any evidence of any type of adverse events including leukopenia, neutropenia, anemia, and diarrhea.
Note: Leukopenia refers to abnormally low numbers of white blood cells (leukocytes). Neutropenia is the medical term for abnormally low neutrophil counts. Neutrophils are a type of white blood cell important to immune system functioning.
Conclusion: Adjuvant Selenium Yeast Treatment and Chemotherapy
The evidence from this clinical study indicates that selenium supplementation reduces the adverse effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy but does not compromise the therapeutic effect of the chemoradiotherapy in patients with cervical cancer [Yang 2023].
The role of selenium for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer has not yet been studied intensively. However, the existing experimental data on selenium and cervical cancer show that selenium may be helpful in reducing the malignant effects of human papilloma virus infections [Jablonska 2021].
Sources
Al-Mubarak AA, van der Meer P, Bomer N. Selenium, Selenoproteins, and Heart Failure: Current Knowledge and Future Perspective. Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2021 Jun;18(3):122-131.
Cohen PA, Jhingran A, Oaknin A, Denny L. Cervical cancer. Lancet. 2019 Jan 12;393(10167):169-182.
Jablonska E, Li Q, Reszka E, Wieczorek E, Tarhonska K, Wang T. Therapeutic Potential of Selenium and Selenium Compounds in Cervical Cancer. Cancer Control. 2021 Jan-Dec;28:10732748211001808.
Yang M, Pei B, Hu Q, Li X, Fang X, Huang X, Yang Z, Chen J, He D, Sun G, Lv P, Wang L, Zhang Z, Lai L and Huang C. Effects of selenium supplementation on concurrent chemoradiotherapy in patients with cervical cancer: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-parallel controlled phase II clinical trial. Front. Nutr. 2023;10:1094081.
The information presented in this review article is not intended as medical advice and should not be used as such.
15 March 2023