a Brazil nut a day keeps the prostate happy

May 6, 2004

Selenium Levels Inversely Linked to Risk of Advanced Prostate Cancer

By J. Brown, MD

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) May 04 - High plasma levels of selenium

are associated with a decreased risk of advanced prostate cancer,

according to a report published in the May 5th issue of the Journal

of the National Cancer Institute. This suggests that high levels of

selenium may slow disease progression.

The current study is one of several prospective epidemiologic

studies to look at the link between selenium levels and prostate

cancer. " Our study is the largest in terms of the sample size and

the follow-up period, " lead author Dr. Haojie Li, from Harvard

Medical School in Boston, told Reuters Health. " Also, we included

patients diagnosed in both the pre- and post-PSA periods. "

The researchers analyzed data from men enrolled in the Physicians'

Health Study. Baseline selenium levels obtained in 1982 from 586 men

diagnosed with prostate cancer during 13 years of follow-up were

compared with levels from 577 control subjects.

Men in the highest selenium level quintile were 48% less likely to

develop advanced prostate cancer than men in lowest quintile (p =

0.05). Moreover, this inverse relationship was observed for men

diagnosed before (pre-PSA era) or after (post-PSA era) October 1990.

" There was a significant inverse association between selenium levels

and overall prostate cancer risk, " Dr. Li said. " However, on further

analysis, only the association with advanced cancer, not localized

disease, was significant. "

" A randomized trial, known as the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer

Prevention Trial (SELECT), is underway " that should definitively

answer whether selenium use is beneficial in preventing prostate

cancer, Dr. Li noted.

J Natl Cancer Inst 2004;96:696-703.

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