Association between selenium levels and ESCC in Lilongwe Malawi

Authors

• E Uduh
• C Abnet
• Y Yano

Abstract

ESCC is the second most prevalent cancer in Malawi after cervical carcinoma. The anticipated 5-year prevalence was 2.45/per 100,000 population, with 1756 new cases and 1657 fatalities in 2020 in Malawi (3). Although drinking alcohol and smoking tobacco are known to increase the risk of developing ESCC, high rates of ESCC in Malawi are unlikely to be caused by these risk factors. Other possible risk factors being considered to play a role in ESCC in Malawi include Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), poor dental health, socioeconomic factors, hot beverages, and low selenium levels.

East Africa has a high frequency of ESCC and is recognized for having low levels of selenium in its soil.

The potential of selenium supplementation as a cancer prevention measure for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma has been investigated in several intervention trials . The incidence of ESCC was found to be inversely correlated with baseline serum selenium content in an observational analysis carried out in China Lin Xian . Overall, these Chinese studies indicate that because of selenium's antioxidant properties, selenium may have a significant chemoprotective function in the carcinogenesis of ESCC among communities with low selenium status and high prevalence of this illness.

This study evaluates the plasma selenium levels of participants in Lilongwe Malawi and analyze the association between selenium levels and ESCC and other possible diseases that are associated with having a low selenium level. Also, the selenium levels in China, Kenya and Malawi will also be compared to analyze any possible similarities and differences

Scientific Focus Area: Epidemiology

This page was last updated on Tuesday, August 6, 2024