Vitamin E A Flop In Prostate Cancer Trial

(CBS)  It's a huge disappointment in the field of cancer prevention.

The largest trial of its kind - known as "SELECT" - hoped Vitamin E and selenium would prevent prostate cancer. But CBS News has learned patients are being told to stop taking the pills - because they don't seem to work, CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook reports. Researchers will continue to monitor the patients in the trial.

"Taking selenium or Vitamin E at the doses that we used in the SELECT trial for an average of five years did not prevent prostate cancer," said Dr. Eric Klein.

The study of more than 35,000 men in their 50s and older began back in 2001.

Doctors at more than 400 sites gave combinations of Vitamin E, the mineral selenium and a placebo.

The supplements failed to prevent prostate cancer - and there were two worrisome trends.

Patients taking Vitamin E alone had a slightly higher rate of prostate cancer.

Men who took selenium alone were more likely to develop diabetes. The researchers believe the increases may just be due to chance.

"The safety issues are of more minor concern and bear further follow-up," Klein said.

Vitamin E and selenium are antioxidants that exist in relatively small amounts in food. Previous studies suggested that higher doses might help prevent prostate cancer.

That's why urologists like Dr. Aaron Katz had high hopes for the trial.

"I'm disappointed with the study. I'm very concerned about the results of the trial," Katz said. "I would have hoped this would have been the way to prevent cancer in this country."

Over the next week, the 35,000 men in the study will be notified of the results and told to stop the supplements.

Katz spoke to one of the participants Monday.

"He's concerned. You've got to be concerned," Katz said. "You're hearing the results of a national trial that you participated in, and are now finding that perhaps I may have increased my risk of developing the disease."

This is a major disappointment, but it is also progress, LaPook reports. Because it's also important to know what does not prevent cancer.

[drinuk]

You are simply trotting out official Merck denial, it will not or does not wash with the public, hence the reason sales are plummeting. After the deaths of 8 young girls who prior to having Gardasil were quite normal, not to mention the thousands suffering serious side effects, YOU should be asking questions !

What comes first, your patients and the welfare of the public OR your allegiance to Merck, it is one or the other. Do I take it that you are condemning Catholic Schools across the World who have outlawed this vaccine ? I repeat, First Do No Harm.

[drinuk]

seandgreen, Simply answer my question Muppet, How many young girls have died from the effects of Gardasil ?

[artbin1]

That''s because vitamins/nutrients are not like drugs: they work WITH the body and unless you have all the other trace minerals and vitamins, not much is going to work well, which is why people who eat the Standard American Diet (SAD, a very fitting acronym!) are so unhealthy and on so many drugs. Speaking of which, were these people taking medications, drinking, smoking, eating fast food (refined sugar, white flour) and taking all the toxic food additives (NutraSweet, Splenda, MSG...) , etc,? And were all the many other contributing factors taken into consideration? Again, probably not. That''s how they can manipulate data to create "studies" like these, to further their agenda.

And to tell people to stop taking nutrients your body REQUIRES and few can get enough of in their diet is just reprehensible, unconscionable behavior. They should be telling them to add all the other ones they''re not getting in order to get their body working again. THAT''s the ONLY way to CURE cancer and all the other major diseases. Of course, that would put most doctors and the drug companies out of business -- so yeah, that''ll never happen. I first read about selenium preventing cancer over 25 years ago and have been taking it since than, (vit E even longer) so if they caused cancer I''d be dead by now. But since I take ALL the required nutrients, my body is working the way it''s supposed to be and I don''t have any of the typical American degenerative or infectious diseases.

[artbin1]

That''s because vitamins/nutrients are not like drugs: they work WITH the body and unless you have all the other trace minerals and vitamins, not much is going to work well, which is why people who eat the Standard American Diet (SAD, a very fitting acronym!) are so unhealthy and on so many drugs. Speaking of which, were these people taking medications, drinking, smoking, eating fast food (refined sugar, white flour) and taking all the toxic food additives (NutraSweet, Splenda, MSG...) , etc,? And were all the many other contributing factors taken into consideration? Again, probably not. That''s how they can manipulate data to create "studies" like these, to further their agenda.

And to tell people to stop taking nutrients your body REQUIRES and few can get enough of in their diet is just reprehensible, unconscionable behavior. They should be telling them to add all the other ones they''re not getting in order to get their body working again. THAT''s the ONLY way to CURE cancer and all the other major diseases. Of course, that would put most doctors and the drug companies out of business -- so yeah, that''ll never happen. I first read about selenium preventing cancer over 25 years ago and have been taking it since than, (vit E even longer) so if they caused cancer I''d be dead by now. But since I take ALL the required nutrients, my body is working the way it''s supposed to be and I don''t have any of the typical American degenerative or infectious diseases.

[artbin1]

That''s because vitamins/nutrients are not like drugs: they work WITH the body and unless you have all the other trace minerals and vitamins, not much is going to work well, which is why people who eat the Standard American Diet (SAD, a very fitting acronym!) are so unhealthy and on so many drugs. Speaking of which, were these people taking medications, drinking, smoking, eating fast food (refined sugar, white flour) and taking all the toxic food additives (NutraSweet, Splenda, MSG...) , etc,? And were all the many other contributing factors taken into consideration? Again, probably not. That''s how they can manipulate data to create "studies" like these, to further their agenda.

And to tell people to stop taking nutrients your body REQUIRES and few can get enough of in their diet is just reprehensible, unconscionable behavior. They should be telling them to add all the other ones they''re not getting in order to get their body working again. THAT''s the ONLY way to CURE cancer and all the other major diseases. Of course, that would put most doctors and the drug companies out of business -- so yeah, that''ll never happen. I first read about selenium preventing cancer over 25 years ago and have been taking it since than, (vit E even longer) so if they caused cancer I''d be dead by now. But since I take ALL the required nutrients, my body is working the way it''s supposed to be and I don''t have any of the typical American degenerative or infectious diseases.

[artbin1]

OK, first off, not all vitamin E is the same. Did they actually use the natural, mixed tocopherols (like in the picture?) Probably not. Synthetic E isn''t very effective, and isn''t even recommended. And did they use a chelated (absorbable form of selenium)? Even if they did both of these, your body needs ALL the required nutrients to work optimally, not just 2 of at least 40+ (the number depends on where you place the cutoff line). Few vitamins/nutrients working alone will generate a major improvement, unless you''re clinically deficient, otherwise you won''t notice much, if any, change,like in this study.

[nordeck52]

the cure for cancer is a healthy immune systm. eliminate meat from your diet and exercise get rid of cancer and heart diease. less trips to the doctor.

Posted by tachoma at 10:15 AM : Oct 28, 2008


Unfortunately an all-vegetarian diet leads to an increased risk of brain shrinkage. Besides, it''s not healthy. Although I should clarify- a vegan diet isn''t healthy. Vegetarian can be.

It really comes down to moderation. Anything can and will kill you, if you use it in large enough amounts.

[glush777]

So the Doctor''s did it and that''s supposed to "an absolute" I supposed. There is no record of Doctor''s trying other things - things that have been known to have a positive effect on the prostate. I have a prostate problem - enlarged, causing water slow down and reduced flow, pain in the lower pelvic area and in the lower back. I was taking a number of things, but nothing improved until I took a "Swiss" brand product called "Prosta Ease". It includes Saw Palmetto, Pygeum, Flax Seed Oil & Pumpkin Seed Oil. Within about two weeks the pelvic and back pain was gone and water returned to normal force and flow. Why don''r the nedical profession consult sometimes with alternative care professionals?

[baileyccc]

One only needs to look at the commercials on CBS to understand why they print this garbage. Big Pharma has CBS in their back pocket.

[drinuk]

Seandgreen,

There you go again, waving the Big Pharma flag !

You defeat your own point by trumpeting Gardasil, whilst you and your friends Merck claim it''s the best thing since sliced bread, the FDA are refusing to sanction it''s use for women between 25 and 47. AND tell us O Learned One, how many deaths of young ladies have occoured, is it now 8 or is it 10, and just how many are suffering dreadful side effects, is it a thousand or two thousand ?

Absolutely pointless arguing with you.