Vitamin E supplements protect against prostate cancer
FalseThe Claim
Vitamin E is often taken as an antioxidant shield against cancer, including prostate cancer in older men.
Origin
Vitamin E's antioxidant role and early observational data suggesting lower prostate cancer risk with higher intake fuelled the idea that supplements are protective.
What Science Says
The SELECT trial randomized 34,887 healthy men to 400 IU/day of vitamin E, selenium, both, or placebo. After extended follow-up, men taking vitamin E alone had a 17% higher risk of prostate cancer than placebo (HR 1.17), or 1.6 extra cases per 1,000 person-years. Supplementation did not protect against prostate cancer and was associated with increased risk.
Verdict
False