Abstract
Background: Selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) have antioxidant and anticancer properties. Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum levels of Se and Zn and the correlation
between the levels of these two elements with risk of incidence of esophageal cancer
(EC) and gastric cancer (GC). Materials and Methods: In a case–control study, we selected sixty patients with GC or EC as the intervention
group and 120 age-matched individuals as the control group. Exclusion criteria were
the individuals with kidney and liver failure and the consumer of dietary supplements
such as Se and Zn. Measurement of serum Se was done in a graphite furnace system and
atomic absorption device of Varian and of serum Zn was done by a flame photometer
system (flame) and atomic absorption device of Varian. Results: In thirty patients of ECs, 90% were squamous cell carcinoma and 10% adenocarcinoma,
and out of thirty patients of GCs, 90% were intestinal type and 10% diffuse type.
The level of two elements in cancer patients was lower than the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant different between two cancer groups for level of
Se and Zn, but there was a significant difference between the control group with two
other groups. Conclusion: Our study confirmed the findings from previous prospective studies and randomized
trials that reducing of lower levels of Se and Zn can effect on incidence of cancer.
Keywords
Case–control - esophageal cancer - gastric cancer - selenium - zinc
