The putative therapeutic value of high-dose selenium in proliferative retinopathies may reflect down-regulation of VEGF production by the hypoxic retina.
Two decades ago, Crary reported his anecdotal observation that a supplemental antioxidant regimen including high-dose selenium (500 mcg daily) appeared to slow the progression of visual loss in diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration. Recently, selenium has been shown to down-regulate VEGF production by rodent cancer cells, both in vivo and in vitro; this effect is dose-dependent and, like the anticarcinogenic activity of selenium, is mediated by methyselenol. If increased selenium exposure can likewise suppress VEGF production in the hypoxic retina, a straightforward explanation for Crary's observation may be at hand. Since selenium is inexpensive and non-toxic in the dose employed by Crary, an effort to replicate his findings is warranted.
McCarty
M F
MF
NutriGuard Research, 1051 Hermes Ave., Encinitas, CA 92024, USA. mmccarty@nai-online.com
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000187:drug effects*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D012643:Selenium