Chemopreventive effects of the essential trace element selenium against prostate cancer have been shown in preclinical models and human observational studies, but results from clinical trials have been disappointing.
It appears that there is a threshold selenium (Se) status below which improvement will decrease prostate cancer risk, but above which supplemental Se may be deleterious. Different forms of selenium have different effects, and genetic and other factors modify selenium's chemopreventive potential. Identification of men most likely to benefit from Se status improvement could have significant public health benefits.
Written by:
Christensen MJ. Are you the author?
Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Science, and Cancer Research Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.
Reference: Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2014 Aug;7(8):781-5.
doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-14-0197
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24994662
UroToday.com Prostate Cancer Section
