Vitamin E A Flop In Prostate Cancer Trial

CBS Evening News Exclusive: Vitamin E And Selenium Fail To Prevent The Disease In Large Clinical 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.

[gearhead1000]

WELL OF COURSE IT INCREASED THE RISK. DID YOU KNOW THAT ALL FORMS OF SYNTHETIC VITAMIN E ARE MADE FROM COAL TAR AND OTHER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS!!!! GOOGLE IT, LOOKS IT UP!!!! YUMMMMM COAL TAR DOES A BODY GOOD!!!

[william8881]

At least its not caffeine.

[gearhead1000]

WELL OF COURSE IT INCREASED THE RISK. DID YOU KNOW THAT ALL FORMS OF SYNTHETIC VITAMIN E ARE MADE FROM COAL TAR AND OTHER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS!!!! GOOGLE IT, LOOKS IT UP!!!! YUMMMMM COAL TAR DOES A BODY GOOD!!!

[martin9p2]

And Barack Obama had nothing to do with it?

[drtahuti418]

looks like another poorly designed study without input from professionals trained and experienced in natural medicine - inappropriate doses, questionable form of E, incomplete and generic treatment quite estranged from the customized and comprehensive individualized approach practiced in naturopathic medicine, Chinese medicine, etc. They didn''t do it well and got what could be expected - they treated nutrition like a drug therapy. Real preventive care using natural medicine would be far more effective.

[sealjr23]

It is worth noting that research from well respected academicians has shown that vitamin E, in large quantities, can actually have a prooxidant effect rather than the desired antioxidant effect.

[toolmangler-2009]

Coal tar also yields saccharin and that has been suspected of causing cancer.

[rational_1]

customized and comprehensive individualized approach practiced in naturopathic medicine, Chinese medicine, etc. They didn''''t do it well and got what could be expected - they treated nutrition like a drug therapy. Posted by drtahuti418 at 08:23 PM : Oct 27, 2008

And how exactly were these individualized, customized comprehensive therapies developed? Kind of hard to do double-blind studies when everyone is getting something different. Seriously, I would like to know how it is that you are so sure these individualized therapies you talked about actually work.

Doctors only work with synthetic drugs and vitamins. No mention of zinc as a preventive; this report is a joke.

[drtahuti418]

re Vit E and oxidation - only single form vitamin E (i.e., pharmaceutical origin, not mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols) has ever been suspected of flipping to be a pro-oxidant; also care needs to be taken re oxidative stress levels of patient - thus, no pharmaceutical E to smokers. No problem for most, esp in mixed form, at practically at any dose. Again, the importance of research design and understanding of nutrition.

[palin08o8]

Ha! HA! HA! Ha! HA! You poor republicans, Sarah Palin has sold her skins for some TV time.

www.chilitoz.com is reporting that Sarah Palin has signed a deal with PlayBoy Magazine to posed partially exposed in a future release of the famous nudity magazine in exchange, Heffner will run a multi-million dollar anti Obama add a day before the election.

[clew37]

Could some of you people stop campaigning through these comments? This is a story about cancer for Christ''s sake, I don''t need to read about Palin or Obama or anything else here.

[slim1h2o]

Docs Pull Plug On Huge Cancer Trial
CBS Evening News Exclusive: Supplements Given In Hopes Of Preventing Prostate Cancer May Have Increased Risk

Just another case of the doctors treating the white middle class as lab rats.

It''ll never stop till Big Pharma gets it''s hand out of the doctors pockets......

[biomegaly]

IMHO, the cure for cancer IS out there, just someone is being PAID to sit their fat a$$ on it! If the cure for cancer WAS ever released, all these cancer doctors and oncologists would LOSE their nice little gravy train! People are suffering and dying because of cancer and all these yayhoos can think of is how much MONEY they can hork down by deliberately keeping it off the market - it''''s ridiculous, and I think it''''s about time that we, the American public, started SAYING something about it!


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Posted by Demongirl60 at 04:36 AM : Oct 28, 2008

Put another bud in your bong and smoke it. There is no cure for cancer, and people like you thinking that there is are delusional.

[drinuk]

Her We Go Again ! Big Pharma applying a negative response to the use of Supplements. Along with the Politicians Big Pharma has turned cancer into the largest and most profitable industry worldwide. THEY DONT WANT YOU TAKING TWO CENT CURES WHILST THEIR $2000 a shot, Mustard gas Chemo gives them immunity from the current worldwide financial disaster. They dont want you to know about Bitter Melon, Graviola, B-17 or HAELAN 951 while they pump you full of junk and they are not interested in prevention or cure. For now they are Bullet Proof BUT not for much longer, thankfully the World is becoming aware of their genocide.

[drinuk]

60 minutes ago, my wifes beautiful 40 year old niece died a dreadful and painful death from the result of treatment for breast cancer. After four years of slow torture by people with no conscience, she finally left us in the most undignified manner imaginable.

DAM THEM ! Vengence is mine sayeth the Lord, Well Dear Lord, It is surely time you began whatever Vengance you feel is appropriate, It Is Long Overdue.

May God Bless You Caroline because the Medical Profession certainly DID NOT.

This is a "Classic Example" of disinformation to protect profits for Big Pharma. The medical world of side effect laced synthetic drugs is their answer to all health problems. They failed to diagnose "Heavy Metals" role in failing health but look at other area so they can cover up the symptoms. There is no profit in curing the underlying cause. The shake up is coming from the Obama Administration. They will correct the FDA and control outrageous prices. Help is finally on the way.

[pirmin3]

If there''s a cheap alternative for disease treatment GOP supported Big Pharma doesn''t want to hear about it.

[drinuk]

permin3, Get Real, the Big Pharma Scam cuts across and into all political parties, they all have dirty hands, they are all on the take ! and until the people rise up it will not change, they solution is in our hands.

If you want to stop this genocide be honest with yourself and start asking questions of all those we employ to look after our welfare and our children. We employ them for our benefit no to enhance the stocks of Big Pharma.

[slim1h2o]

DAM THEM ! Vengence is mine sayeth the Lord, Well Dear Lord, It is surely time you began whatever Vengance you feel is appropriate, It Is Long Overdue.

May God Bless You Caroline because the Medical Profession certainly DID NOT.

Posted by drinuk at 08:12 AM : Oct 28, 2008

You have my condolences. I lost my mother the same way, Breast Cancer. The doctors did too little at the beginning stages, and too much towards the end. Which ended up killing her.

And now, I have my own health crisis, and those docs are doing the same dam thing, not enough now, but I won''t let them do more when it''s too late. Not one more dime will I give to these bass-terds.

Dam the doctors.

[drinuk]

slim1h2o,

Thank you, Go check out,Omega Labs,Equador (Greg Caton)
Rain-Tree.com
Haelan 951
Good Luck

[gop_will_win]

My families health care plan consists of prayer. If one of the members gets sick, we all surround the bed and pray for them to get well.

[basicman2000]

For anyone with a true interest in a preventative treatment for low-risk prostrate cancer patients a study by Dr. Dean Orish of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California should be required reading.

You can (probably) find a copy of the public release on Science Daily web site at:

www.sciencedaily.com/releases2008

[gop_will_win]

My families health care plan consists of prayer. If one of the members gets sick, we all surround the bed and pray for them to get well.
Posted by gop_will_win at 09:12 AM : Oct 28, 2008

That is really sad .... and if you are not getting medical attention for anyone under 18 years old ... probably illegal.



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Posted by cbs3200
===================
Why do you say sad? If God intends for us to live, he will allow us to live.

[rational_1]

My families health care plan consists of prayer. If one of the members gets sick, we all surround the bed and pray for them to get well.
Posted by gop_will_win at 09:12 AM : Oct 28, 2008
That is really sad .... and if you are not getting medical attention for anyone under 18 years old ... probably illegal.
Posted by cbs3200 at 09:16 AM : Oct 28, 2008

Don''t buy it - I think he''s trolling to get a response out of people. Either that or his parents are brother and sister.

[gop_will_win]

Well ... I have no more faith in your "god" than I do
the Easter Bunny .... and by the way ... when you
imply that the "gop will win" .... what is it exactly that you think the GOP will win? If you are thinking
that they are going to win in this current election
cycle .....



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Posted by cbs3200
==================
You have a lack of faith. Also the GOP will win this election cycle.

[gearhead1000]

WELL OF COURSE IT INCREASED THE RISK. DID YOU KNOW THAT ALL FORMS OF SYNTHETIC VITAMIN E ARE MADE FROM COAL TAR AND OTHER PETROLEUM PRODUCTS!!!! GOOGLE IT, LOOKS IT UP!!!! YUMMMMM COAL TAR DOES A BODY GOOD!!!

[tachoma-2009]

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.

[gop_will_win]

Well, we obviously disagree on many points. As far as
the GOP winning anything ... I think you are crazy.
As far as the healthcare issue, at least for your
children (if you have any), please have a plan "B"
......... a good pediatrician.



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Posted by cbs3200
==================
Thank you for your concern but we have Jesus.

[GradyC]

This study is flawed. It did not use real vitamin E. Instead, it used dl-alpha tocopherol. I just called the National Cancer Institute to confirm this. It also used lower dosages (400 IU) instead of the 800 IU considered to be preventive by some experts. Finally, it did not ensure that participants took a balanced vitamin supplement. This study was run like a drug study. Vitamins aren''t drugs. Whoever organized this study wasted a lot of time and money that most vitamin expert could have pointed out way back in 2001 when this study started.

[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.

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.

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

[drinuk]

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

[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.