Minerals that Build the Immune System
by Rick Wagner

Selenium plays a primary role in our immune system function. In one recent study by Melinda Beck, Ph.D. and virologist at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, it was demonstrated that selenium would stop a virus from mutating.  This ability provides important support to the human immune system when fighting the common cold or any cold or flu virus we may be exposed to.  This is because it is the ability of a virus to mutate quickly which creates strain on any immune system.  If the virus mutates more quickly than the immune system can react, due to insufficient selenium, it will quickly overrun the host creating “dis-ease.”  This overtaxes the immune system of the host, which creates illness and forces the host to rest in order to deal with the run-away virus.  If you think about it, rest and good wholesome food are the only natural response the host has.

You may ask, “what is selenium actually doing?”  Good question… it is activating the enzymes necessary to carry on the virus anti-mutation process.  In other words, it is the element selenium bonded to certain proteins, which make everything work as it should.  Those enzymes have now been named selenoproteins.

Additionally, my research on selenium has led me to some remarkable new, or at least not well-published health conditions associated with low levels of selenium.  In an article appearing in the July 15, 2000 issue of the Lancet, a highly respected medical journal, an excellent summary of current selenium research was presented.  Here is a list of health problems associated with a deficiency of selenium:

1.  A compromised immune system
2.  Recurrent viral infections
3.  Negative mood swings
4.  Low thyroid function
5.  Cardiovascular disease
6.  Oxidative stress and other inflammatory conditions,
7.  Reproduction and infertility
8.  Cancer

The above claims were derived from extensive research by a wide variety of clinics and institutions around the world.  In fact, there were 84 different references in this article, most of which were research reports.

Please read below for a more detail on what the research has discovered regarding these selenium deficiency disease states.

1.  Immune Function - Supplementation of selenium has measurable immunostimulant effects including making more T-cells and natural killer cells.  These cells are essential in good quantities for the immune system to work effectively.

2.  Viral Infection - Maintaining good levels of selenium in the tissues provides the body what it needs to make an enzyme called Cytoplasmic Glutathione Peroxidase or (cGPX), which is concentrated in tissues involved in the immune response.  cGPX is the enzyme seemingly involved in most of the following chronic nutrient deficiency symptoms. Research is showing that the mutating virus can become even more virulent in a selenium deficient host.

A. New virulent flu strains all seem to begin in China.  I believe, as do some researchers, that these flu forms develop in selenium deficient areas of China-Witness the current SARS outbreak. By the way, I recently read that the flu shots currently administered may contain a mercury-based preservative, as do many other inoculations.  Getting a flu shot may be more dangerous than getting the flu.  Selenium helps the body rid itself of mercury.

B.  HIV patients with selenium deficiencies are nearly 20 times more likely to die from HIV related causes.

C.  Hepatitis B and C appears to be slowed and/or stopped from progressing into liver cancer.

3.  Reproduction - Proper selenium levels have has long been recognized by the farming industry as essential for successful reproduction.  Women who have had miscarriages have been found to have lower blood levels of selenium.  And lastly, selenium is essential for male fertility and normal sperm motility or activity.

4.  Mood - Low selenium levels have been associated with seizures in children, senility and cognitive decline in the elderly and a greater incidence of depression, anxiety, confusion and hostility.

5.  Thyroid - Low measurements of selenium and iodine appear to compromise thyroid hormone metabolism.  This is measured by looking the blood T3: T4 hormone ratios.  Many people today have hypothyroidism as identified by these ratios.

6.  Cardiovascular Disease - Instead of getting too wordy…in a nutshell, selenium appears to be able to keep arteries healthy by not allowing fats in the blood to be oxidized which will increase platelet aggregation (clogging of the arteries).  Research has shown that people with low selenium levels in the blood had a 2-3 times higher death rate from cardiovascular problems…especially strokes.

7.  Cancer - Dr. Julian Whitaker’s cancer supplement list begins with selenium. In probably the most important cancer study to date performed in the middle 1990’s.  1312 people with a history of skin cancer were studied.  They were dosed with 200 mcg’s of selenium per day.  This dose had no affect on non-melanoma skin cancer.  On the other hand, overall cancer in the test group was 37% lower.  Prostate cancer was 63% lower, colon cancer 58% lower, and lung cancer, 46% lower.  This study was stopped early as researchers felt it was unethical to deny these selenium benefits to the control group.  This really blew me away!

We have additional research documents on the topic of selenium.  If you are interested in receiving it please email us and we will forward the document. 

I want to remind everyone not to just run out start guzzling large quantities of Eidon Minerals if you have any of these problems.  Be sure to follow the label dosage recommendations.  Most importantly, get a hair test done to establish your current minerals status.  The beauty of this mineral test is that you will also be provided with a personalized menu including each mineral you need to take to rebalance your present mineral status.  Balance is the key, and we now have a way to achieve it using structure and methodology.