In an earlier study, selenium supplements raised the risk of aggressive prostate cancer in men who already had high levels of this mineral in their bodies. A new study finds that selenium supplements may also make men who already have prostate cancer more likely to die of the disease.
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U.S. scientists followed roughly 4,500 men with non-metastatic prostate cancer for nine years. Those who took supplements with at least 140 micrograms a day of selenium after their diagnosis were 2½ times more likely to die of prostate cancer than those who took no selenium.
What to do: Don’t take more than the RDA (55 mcg) of selenium in your multivitamin or a separate supplement. It’s too early to be certain that selenium promotes prostate cancer, but it doesn’t prevent or slow the disease, so why take a chance?
Source: J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 2015. doi:10.1093/jnci/dju360.
Other relevant links:
• Selenium and prostate cancer. See: Should You Be Worried About High Doses of Vitamin E and Selenium?
• Whole milk and prostate cancer. See: How to Diet: Dairy and Prostate Cancer
• Cruciferous vegetables and prostate cancer. See: What to Eat: Cruciferous Vegetables and Prostate Cancer