Monday Nov 23, 2015 (foodconsumer.org) -- Often times, selenium is considered a beneficial antioxidant.  But a new study suggests that prostate cancer patients should avoid selenium supplements.  The study based on data from 4459 men diagnosed with non-advanced prostate cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study cohort showed supplemental selenium increased risk of death from prostate cancer.

The study found men who took 140 μg of supplemental selenium per day or more were twice as likely as those who did not use selenium to die from prostate cancer during a median follow-up of 7.8 years.  The all-cause mortality was higher among those who did not use selenium while recurrence in both groups did not differ.

Higher intake of supplemental selenium was associated with higher risk of dying from prostate cancer.  The risk of dying from prostate cancer was increased by 18% in men with intake of 1 to 24 μg per day.  The risk increased by 33% in those with intake of 25 to 139 μg per day and 160% in men with intake of 140 or more μg per day.

The study found use of selenium did not have an effect on overall mortality.

Other studies found calcium and phosphorus increased risk of lethal prostate cancer and high intake of dairy foods increased risk of prostate cancer.

Stacey A. Kenfield, Erin L. Van Blarigan, Natalie DuPre, Meir J. Stampfer, Edward L. Giovannucci and June M. Chan, Selenium Supplementation and Prostate Cancer Mortality,  JNCI J Natl Cancer Inst (2015) 107 (1): dju360