Vitamin E pills up prostate cancer risk, study suggests

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(CBS/AP) Think vitamin pills will keep you healthy?

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Actually, a new study suggests that high doses of vitamin E can slightly elevate men's risk for prostate cancer - and researchers called the finding another reminder that people should be careful about using vitamins and other supplements.

"People tend to think of vitamins as innocuous substances, almost like chicken soup - take a little and it can't hurt," said lead author Dr. Eric Klein of the Cleveland Clinic. "If you have normal levels, the vitamin is probably of no benefit, and if you take too much, you can be harmed".

The study showed that men randomly assigned to take a 400-unit capsule of vitamin E every day for about five years were 17 percent more likely to get prostate cancer than those given dummy pills. That dose, common in over-the-counter supplements, is almost 20 times higher than the recommended adult amount, which is about 23 units daily.

The results mean for every 1,000 men who took vitamin E, there were 11 additional cases of prostate cancer, compared with men given dummy pills.

About 160 of every 1,000 U.S. men will develop prostate cancer at some point. The risk increases as men age, and detection can be tricky since symptoms such as frequent urination can also be caused by harmless conditions. Treatment is also complex since some slow-growing prostate tumors are not deadly but some procedures, including surgery, can cause erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence.

About 13 percent of American men take vitamin E, according to a supplement trade group. What's the study's take-away message for these men?

Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, says they should stop taking large doses and talk to their doctors about risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening. Smaller doses, typically found in multivitamins, are probably fine, said Brawley, who was not involved in the research.

Brawley noted that the study echoes previous thinking on beta-carotene, which once was thought to guard against cancer but more recently has been linked with increased risk for lung cancer, especially in smokers.

"There should be a global warning that ... excessive use of vitamins has not been proven to be beneficial and may be the opposite," Brawley said.

Experts generally agree that foods are the best sources for vitamins. Vitamin E is found in foods such as nuts, seeds and vegetable oils.

The new research - published in the Journal of the American Medical Association - involved more than 35,000 healthy men aged 50 and older, from the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

The researchers said it was unclear how vitamin E would harm the prostate.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation has more on prostate cancer.

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[Carolm3]

Cancer is a struggle for everyone. Here is a link that may or may not be helpful to anyone battling cancer. Alternative treatments do help!

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[outofwork2008]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/235881.php
The article itself was not that informative for those who really want facts the above is a better source. While they made sure the men in the study had a PSA rate below a certain level and they were examined for signs of prostrate problems. They they left out a very important key factor that is history of Prostrate cancer in a given family. Without that key factor being taken into account the results are lacking and questionable. I will also agree that most people do not take that much vitamin E but you also have to realize the test also was done with Selenium and a combination of E and Selenium. Each was higher than the placebo.

[maoriii23]

'up' as a verb, really? as in: "you've been up'd" or "its time to up you to the top."

"Study suggests vitamin E pills increase prostate cancer risk."

[phil8192]

It appears as if the Big Pharma and Codex Alimentarius crowds are in full FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) mode, trying to destroy the over-the-counter supplements business. Why the sudden flood of anti-vitamin reports based on questionable "research" and "studies"? When it comes down to it, they can't come up with a single death caused by vitamins in the last 50 years. Plenty of deaths every year from man-made pharmaceuticals, though.

[Kathie68]

rac-a-tocopheryl acetate is a cheap form of synthetic vitamin E!!! I wouldn't take it either because the body doesn't know what to do with this form of vitamin E. Look to the natural form d-tocopheryl for good health. Any one that uses a cheap vitamin for a research study doesn't know the difference!!

[qmpash]

Did you realize that everyone who develops cancer has, at some time in their life; gone to, seen, heard, or read about a baseball game? There must be some kind of causative link here. I just can't figure out what it might be.

[phil8192]

I've heard that speaking English is also a big risk factor.

[terry34000]

The American Medical Association is the last entity to trust on prostate cancer. They don't have a clue what causes prostate cancer nor how to detect it. There is a miracle cure for prostate cancer and the AMA and FDA refuse to approve it for the US. This miracle device/procedure has been approved for women's health issue for many years. Go figure.

Europe, Canada, Mexico, Germany, South America and Russia to name a few have approved this procedure. But not the good ole US of A. And the US is suppose to have the best health care system in the world. That's not truth by a long shot.

My primary doctor said the FDA refuses to approve the procedure because too many doctors are getting rich on the old fashion and primitive way of open surgery, robotic and radiation. Thousands of American men are dying of prostate cancer needlessly because of the FDA and the AMA's refusal to do the right thing.

I know the above is true because I have been completely cured of prostate cancer with the above procedure. Needless to say I am very angry at the FDA and AMA for their money grubbing ways.

[igmcdonald]

Yeah if vitamins and supplements are so dangerous and terrible why the hell does every single doctor on the planet make pregnant women take their prenatal vitamins!!!???!!!
I call BS!
But everyone should eat more fruits and veggies!!!!

[Saturn66]

What's with the war against vitamins and supplements all of a sudden? I'm always suspicious that Big Pharma is behind it. For starters, who paid for the study? Men in this study took "high dose" vitamin E. Most people don't take 400 units. And there did not seem to be any consideration for which men were, say, smokers, nor were they monitored to make sure they actually took the vitamin regularly as directed by the study. Also, a single study can be meaningless. Were there six others that showed benefits? We don't know. My spouse and I have been able to resolve almost all our medical issues using vitamins or supplements, so I see red when the media jumps on these so-called studies for the sensationalism. This is not even a newsworthy item.

[keypounder]

Couldn't agree more --that said, though, most if not all Vitamin E supps are soy based, and soy is a phyto-estrogen. Vitamin E itself is great for women, not sure about men though.