Selenium: Protecting Against Prostate Cancer

As supplements go, selenium only recently moved from the sidelines into the spotlight. A bit of trivia might help explain why: Up until about fifty years ago, selenium was considered poisonous. And actually, in large doses, selenium is toxic, and can cause everything from hair loss to stomach distress. But small amounts of selenium are absolutely essential for good health, which is why it is classified as a trace mineral.

Selenium is vitally important in a number of processes within the body. For example, selenium has been shown to protect the cardiovascular system from heart disease and to enhance immunity. Selenium is also an excellent team player, and works especially well with vitamin E; these two antioxidants enhance each other's absorption.

In addition to being a powerful antioxidant, selenium is also shaping up as a potent cancer fighter, with a special ability to combat prostate cancer. "Several studies have shown a significant overall reduction in all types of cancer, except skin cancer," notes Michael D. Seidman, M.D., F.A.C.S, a practitioner and researcher at Henry Ford Health Systems in Dearborn, Michigan. "The research on prostate cancer is very promising."

Several recent studies have underscored the importance of adequate selenium for prostate cancer protection. For example, a study of about 150 men, published in The Journal of Urology, noted that those with low levels of selenium in their blood were four to five times more likely to develop prostate cancer than men with higher levels.