November 3, 2008 – The American National Cancer Institute (NCI) has just stopped a large clinical trial aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of vitamin E and selenium in preventing prostate cancer. Preliminary results show that the supplements had no measurable beneficial effect in reducing the incidence of this cancer in the 35,000 subjects participating in the trial, the NCI said in a statement.1.
In fact, the researchers rather observed a reverse trend, but not statistically significant, they point out: among subjects who took vitamin E, the number of cases of prostate cancer was slightly higher. And those who took selenium would have been slightly more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes. Although these data could be a coincidence, since the difference between the groups did not reach a significant level, the authorities of the NCI preferred. stop treatment. The subjects will be followed for three years, as a precaution.
However, the data collected to date as part of this clinical trial leads to the conclusion that these supplements do not have a significant protective effect against prostate cancer. This study, Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT), was started in 2001 after the results of other trials established a link between vitamin E and selenium and the prevention of prostate cancer.
The study was taking place simultaneously in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. The participants were divided into four groups of over 8,000 subjects each: one took vitamin E and selenium, another group took vitamin E and a placebo, a third took selenium and a placebo, while the last group took vitamin E and a placebo. group received two placebos.
The Canadian Cancer Society estimates that 24,700 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008 and 4,300 will die from it.
Pierre Lefrançois – PasseportSanté.net
According to CNN, AP and Radio-Canada.
1. NCI Office of Media Relations. Review of Prostate Cancer Prevention Study Shows No Benefit for Use of Selenium and Vitamin E Supplements. NIH News, October 27, 2008 press release, United States. [Consulté le 31 octobre 2008]. www.nih.gov/news/health/oct2008