Serum Selenium Levels among Ain Shams University Medical Students with Family History of Cancer, A pilot study

Abstract

Selenium deficiency affects up to 1 billion people worldwide. Selenium itself plays a huge role in the human body. Beside it’s most known role as a powerful antioxidant, it has an anticancer role, it was also found to have a role in CVD, DM, Thyroid Function, Immunity, Critical illness, Osteoporosis, Fertility and Bowel Habits and Disorders. Also it’s deficiency and toxicity could cause many other diseases like keshan disease and kashen beck disease in Se deficiency and Selenosis in Se toxicity. Because Se content in food largely depends on the Se concentration in the soil and fodder of the animals, it differs from one region to the other even within the same country. Se has an anticancer effect, it plays a protective role in some types of cancer such as Gastrointestinal and Prostate cancer and improves the prognosis of others such as Breast cancer. It is also used as an adjuvant therapy in radiation and chemotherapy treatment. For adolescents, cancer development in their parents is a highly traumatizing event, as it causes intensive stress, anxiety, irritability, depression, somatic problems, lack of concentration, and disordered sleep. Research has demonstrated that adolescents and young adults have higher levels of anxiety and depression than preadolescent children, as older offspring tend to experience greater household and caregiving responsibilities. It was found that both high and low Se levels have been linked wi