CURIOUS: Why modest nutrient deficiencies can lead to disease.

Renowned biochemist Bruce Ames, still going strong, has put forward a triage theory of nutrition. Basically, if a vitamin or mineral is in short supply, the body prioritizes its use for essential functions. These functions are likely to be oriented to short-term benefit. “Non-essential” functions are those more likely to be of benefit to health in the long run.

Here’s a recent paper by Ames in which he tested the triage theory . . .

It appears that if not enough selenium, a required mineral, is around, then certain enzyme functions will be compromised, leading to cancer, heart disease, and immune dysfunction, the last of which will predispose to infections and cancer.