In a 2011 JAMA Network study, researchers reviewed the results of previous trials showing that selenium or vitamin E supplements did not reduce the risk of prostate cancer, but rather increased it, although the increase was not considered statistically significant. In this study, more than 35,500 healthy men were given either selenium supplements and a vitamin E placebo, vitamin E supplements and a selenium placebo, both supplements, or both placebos. Participants were observed for 7 to 12 years. The results showed that vitamin E supplements significantly increased men’s susceptibility to prostate cancer. However, this risk was not seen in those who took both vitamin E and selenium supplements, suggesting that selenium may counteract the potential negative effects of vitamin E on prostate cancer risk.
Researchers in a lab study published in Scientific Reports in 2019 decided to take a closer look at what might be going on behind the scenes when it comes to vitamin E and prostate cancer risk. They found that vitamin E has cancer-promoting effects, including stimulating cellular transformation and promoting DNA damage through increased oxidative stress.
