Vitamin E, Selenium Supplements Might Double Chances of Prostate Cancer

Men taking selenium or vitamin E supplements might double their risk of prostate cancer, depending on the levels of selenium already in their bodies, a new study suggests.

Men who already have high concentrations of selenium in their bodies nearly double their risk of aggressive prostate cancer if they take selenium supplements, said lead author Dr. Alan Kristal, associate head of the Cancer Prevention Program at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle.

The new study, published Feb. 21 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, also found that vitamin E supplements can more than double a man's prostate cancer risk, but only if the man has low concentrations of selenium in his body.

The upshot, said Kristal, is simple: Don't take high-dose selenium or vitamin E supplements.

"No one's ever been able to demonstrate any benefit for taking high doses of selenium or vitamin E, so why do it?" he said. "There's no benefit, there's only risk, so what's the point?"

http://www.philly.com/philly/health/topics/HealthDay685137_20140221_Vitamin_E__Selenium_Supplements_Might_Double_Chances_of_Prostate_Cancer.html

Vitamin E, Selenium Supplements Might Double Chances of Prostate Cancer

Vitamin E, Selenium Supplements Might Double Chances of Prostate Cancer

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