HHS HealthBeat (December 30, 2008)

Vitamin protection?

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Vitamin E and the mineral selenium don’t seem to give men the protection against prostate cancer that they might have hoped for.  

Previous studies indicated the supplements could help. So researchers across the United States and Canada looked what happened to men who took the supplements.

The study found that Vitamin E and selenium did not prevent prostate cancer.  

Dr. Eric Klein of the Cleveland Clinic was one of the study’s coordinators:

[Dr. Klein speaks] “Men should not be taking Vitamin E or selenium in the hope of preventing prostate cancer because it does not appear that they work.”

The study also found some indications of possible harm. Researchers say that might only be coincidental. But the scientists have told the men in the study that they can stop taking the supplements.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

Last revised: December, 30 2008