Selenium may reduce the risk of prostate cancer
Results from the Harvard-based Health Professionals Follow-Up Study suggest that higher selenium intake reduces the risk of prostate cancer.
Researchers investigated the association between risk of prostate cancer and prediagnostic level of selenium in toenails, a measure of long-term selenium intake. In 1986, 51,529 male health professionals aged 40 to 75 years responded to a mailed questionnaire and in 1987, 33,737 participants provided toenail clippings. From 1989 through 1994, 181 new cases of prostate cancer were reported. Case and control subjects were matched by age, smoking status, and month of toenail return. Selenium levels were also measured.
The results showed that higher selenium levels were associated with a 65 per cent reduced risk of advanced prostate cancer.
