Can vitamin E reduce the risk of prostate cancer?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:I think the jury is still out on whether vitamin E supplements help prevent prostate cancer. Some studies have shown that certain forms of vitamin E can destroy cancer cells. Recently, one large study known as the SELECT (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial) study failed to find any evidence that vitamin E supplements fight prostate cancer. But the men in that study received a form of vitamin E, called dl-alpha-tocopherol-acetate, that wasn't previously known to have any effect on cancer cells. Also, taking large doses of a single vitamin, such as vitamin E, is unlikely to yield any health benefit unless you're eating a well-balanced diet. A healthy diet gives vitamin E the support it needs from other nutrients to neutralize damaging molecules called free radicals. Talk to your doctor about all the steps you can take to lower your risk for prostate cancer.I think the jury is still out on whether vitamin E supplements help prevent prostate cancer. Some studies have shown that certain forms of vitamin E can destroy cancer cells. Recently, one large study known as the SELECT (Selenium and... More -
Dr. Michael Roizen answered:Some data shows that taking vitamin E-especially mixed tocopherols-decreases the risk of prostate cancer.
But if you're taking a statin medication, you shouldn't take more than 100 IU of mixed tocopherols or vitamin E because it inhibits the statin's function by 40 percent.
The vitamin E will have no effect on cholesterol level, though it will inhibit the anti-inflammatory effect of statins such as Zocor, Lipitor, and Crestor.
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Some data shows that taking vitamin E-especially mixed tocopherols-decreases the risk of prostate cancer. But if you're taking a statin medication, you shouldn't take more than 100 IU of mixed tocopherols or vitamin E because it inhibits the... More -
RealAge answered:Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States, so it's understandable that guys want to do all they can to avoid it. For years, antioxidant-rich vitamin E supplements were believed to help prevent prostate cancer, among other conditions. Now results of a long-term study raise doubts about the benefit of vitamin E supplements.
Updated data from the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial -- the largest-ever prostate cancer prevention trial, started in 2001 -- suggests that vitamin E supplements may actually increase your prostate cancer risk. The initial findings, released in 2008, suggested that vitamin E supplements didn't prevent prostate cancer (researchers believed the small increase in cases was due to chance). Updated study data released last year, however, shows that after seven years (5 1/2 years on supplements and 1 1/2 years off), prostate cancer cases shot up significantly.
"Toss your vitamin E [supplements]," say Mehmet C. Oz, MD, and Michael F. Roizen, MD. "The study found that taking 400 IU of E daily raises men's risk of prostate cancer by 17%. Why isn't clear. We don't recommend taking capsules of vitamin E anyway. We get some vitamin E in our multivitamin (30 IU is common) and some from food, but food's not the worry. It's hard to consume too much vitamin E unless you eat nothing but almonds, sunflower seeds, and spinach."
The bottom line? Skip vitamin E supplements. Age is among the strongest prostate cancer risk factors, and no supplements can reverse that. In fact, 80% of diagnosed prostate cancer cases occur in men ages 65 and older.Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States, so it's understandable that guys want to do all they can to avoid it. For years, antioxidant-rich vitamin E... More
