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

Author(s)

Rocha, Katya Cristina ^[1] ; dos Santos Vieira, Maria Luiza ^[1] ; Beltrame, Registila Libania ^[1] ; Cartum, Jairo ^[1] ; Alves, Sarah Isabel P. M. do N. ^[2] ; Azzalis, Ligia Ajaime ^[2] ; Campos Junqueira, Virginia Berlanga ^[2] ; Pereira, Edimar Cristiano ^[2] ; Affonso Fonseca, Fernando Luiz ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Fac Med ABC, Dept Pathol, Av Principe Gales 821, BR-09060650 Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Environm Sci Chem & Pharm, Diadema, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL FOOD; v. 19, n. 6, p. 560-568, JUN 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 10

Abstract

Essential to human health, selenium (Se) has enzymatic functions of fundamental importance to human biology due to its effects on DNA damage repair, its antioxidant properties, and cancer prevention. The best studied relationships between Se and the immune system is its role in the functions of neutrophils and of lymphocytes. Despite these observations, it is not yet clear by which mechanism Se is able to modify the immune status. This was a double-blind, crossover study: Group 1 received Se and Group 2 received placebo (30 days). After this, Group 1 received placebo and Group 2 received Se (30 days). Every 30 days, blood samples were collected for white blood cell count, red blood cell count, and Ig level measurement (IgA, IgG, IgE, IgM). Of the 36 patients, 17 were suffering from leukemia/lymphomas (LL) and 19 from solid tumors (ST). In the ST group's leukogram, a significant increase in neutrophils was observed after Se usage (P = .0192). During the analyzed period, Se minimized the triggering of neutropenia cases in both groups. IgA and IgG levels in ST patients were significantly higher than those identified in LL patients after Se usage (P = .0051 and P = .0055). For IgA, a significant increase in its production, after Se usage, was observed in the ST group when compared to the LL (P = .0011). The same did not occur to the IgM and IgE immunoglobulins. In our study, the supplementation with Se reduced the neutropenic cases (LL and ST patients) and reduced IgG and IgA levels in LL and increased in ST group. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 12/13871-7 - Study of the effects of selenium supplementation in children with leukemia and solid tumors by Z scan technique
• Grantee: Sarah Isabel Pinto Monteiro Do Nascimento Alves
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants