The Claim
Daily supplementation with 200 mcg of selenium for an average of 5.5 years in healthy men aged 50 and older has no significant effect on prostate cancer incidence.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Taking 200 micrograms of selenium daily for about 5.5 years does not change the rate of prostate cancer in healthy men aged 50 and older.
See the scientific wording
Daily supplementation with 200 mcg of selenium for an average of 5.5 years in healthy men aged 50 and older (55 for non-African Americans) has no significant effect on prostate cancer incidence, based on data from the SELECT trial involving 35,151 participants, indicating that selenium supplementation does not prevent prostate cancer.
Taking selenium supplements does not change how prostate cells grow, die, or become cancerous, because the body already has enough selenium to support its normal functions, and adding more does not affect any known process that controls cancer development.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: Vitamin E and selenium do not decrease prostate cancer incidence: vitamin E may actually increase it
Taking selenium pills every day for over five years didn’t help healthy older men avoid prostate cancer — it didn’t make it better or worse. So, selenium doesn’t work as a preventive tool.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.