soy depletes selenium which means less Glutathione

October 14, 2004

Interesting article from Cystic Fibrosis website

http://members.tripod.com/uvicf/docs/soyPIT.htm about how soy products deplete

selenium.

Soy and soybean foods are very popular. However, it may be wise to use caution

if you are a cystic fibrosis patient [or anyone with low levels of selenium

and/or glutathione.] As with almost all food plants, soybeans have been bred to

accentuate certain characteristics that are viewed as valuable. Over the last 50

years, the major strains of soybean have been bred to increase the plant's level

of a naturally occurring fungicide - phenyl isothiocyanate, or PIT for short.

Whereas heirloom varieties of soy may contain only 1-2 parts per million of PIT,

modern varieties may contain 2000-2500 parts per million of PIT.

This is important for those who have cystic fibrosis. As you may know, the

glutathione system of CF persons is dysfunctional. (See the " glutathione "

heading under this website's " Research " section for more information on this

topic.) Selenium plays an important role in that system, specifically in the

formation of glutathione peroxidase, the enzyme that facilitates the reduction

of GSH to GSSG in the presence of water-soluble oxidants. Without adequate

amounts of selenium, there will not be adequate amounts of glutathione

peroxidase. Without adequate amounts of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione

cannot function well in its antioxidant capacity.

PIT displaces selenium, in essence, sucking selenium from the body. This was

first discovered in the dairy industry, where calves are separated from their

mothers before the natural weaning age and thus are put on a substitute feed.

When fed with soy replacer formulas, about 1/3 of the calves would die of the

scours, which is the dairy term for dysentery. It turned out that PIT was the

culprit. By displacing selenium, the calves' intestines lost their membrane

integrity. PIT also interfered with digestive enzymes, particularly proteases.

(Cows have the same digestive enzymes as humans.)

Because CF persons [plus mercury toxic and autistics] have both glutathione

system dysfunction, as well as an impaired digestive enzyme system and inflamed

gut, it might be wise to use caution when using modern soybean products. The PIT

in the soy products could aggravate these conditions. [Note: This seems too

cautious too me. SOY PRODUCTS SHOULD BE AVOIDED. Soy is also estrogenic and we

already have too many estrogens added to our environment, from pesticides,

hormones added to food, chlorination, etc.]

For more information, feel free to contact Dr. Mark at 1-801-796-6515,

who first brought this matter to our attention.

Janet McAuley

October 14, 2004

I have often wondered about the Soy formula connection, sure it was

in there somewhere.

Michele

> Interesting article from Cystic Fibrosis website

http://members.tripod.com/uvicf/docs/soyPIT.htm about how soy

products deplete selenium.

> Soy and soybean foods are very popular. However, it may be wise to

use caution if you are a cystic fibrosis patient [or anyone with low

levels of selenium and/or glutathione.] As with almost all food

plants, soybeans have been bred to accentuate certain characteristics

that are viewed as valuable. Over the last 50 years, the major

strains of soybean have been bred to increase the plant's level of a

naturally occurring fungicide - phenyl isothiocyanate, or PIT for

short. Whereas heirloom varieties of soy may contain only 1-2 parts

per million of PIT, modern varieties may contain 2000-2500 parts per

million of PIT.

>

> This is important for those who have cystic fibrosis. As you may

know, the glutathione system of CF persons is dysfunctional. (See

the " glutathione " heading under this website's " Research " section for

more information on this topic.) Selenium plays an important role in

that system, specifically in the formation of glutathione peroxidase,

the enzyme that facilitates the reduction of GSH to GSSG in the

presence of water-soluble oxidants. Without adequate amounts of

selenium, there will not be adequate amounts of glutathione

peroxidase. Without adequate amounts of glutathione peroxidase,

glutathione cannot function well in its antioxidant capacity.

>

> PIT displaces selenium, in essence, sucking selenium from the body.

This was first discovered in the dairy industry, where calves are

separated from their mothers before the natural weaning age and thus

are put on a substitute feed. When fed with soy replacer formulas,

about 1/3 of the calves would die of the scours, which is the dairy

term for dysentery. It turned out that PIT was the culprit. By

displacing selenium, the calves' intestines lost their membrane

integrity. PIT also interfered with digestive enzymes, particularly

proteases. (Cows have the same digestive enzymes as humans.)

>

> Because CF persons [plus mercury toxic and autistics] have both

glutathione system dysfunction, as well as an impaired digestive

enzyme system and inflamed gut, it might be wise to use caution when

using modern soybean products. The PIT in the soy products could

aggravate these conditions. [Note: This seems too cautious too me.

SOY PRODUCTS SHOULD BE AVOIDED. Soy is also estrogenic and we

already have too many estrogens added to our environment, from

pesticides, hormones added to food, chlorination, etc.]

>

> For more information, feel free to contact Dr. Mark at 1-

801-796-6515, who first brought this matter to our attention.

>

> Janet McAuley

>

October 14, 2004

what is the soy formula connection?

[ ] Re: soy depletes selenium which means less

Glutathione