The Claim
Daily supplementation with 400 IU of vitamin E for an average of 5.5 years in healthy men aged 50 and older increases the risk of prostate cancer by 17% compared to placebo.
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 400 IU of vitamin E daily for about 5.5 years increases the risk of prostate cancer by 17% in healthy men aged 50 and older compared to taking a placebo.
See the scientific wording
Daily supplementation with 400 IU of vitamin E for an average of 5.5 years in healthy men aged 50 and older (55 for non-African Americans) may increase the risk of prostate cancer by 17% compared to placebo, based on data from the SELECT trial involving 35,151 participants, suggesting that routine vitamin E supplementation for prostate cancer prevention is not beneficial and may be harmful.
High doses of vitamin E interfere with the body's natural balance of oxidants and antioxidants, causing harmful molecules to build up and damage DNA in prostate cells. This damage accumulates over time and triggers abnormal cell growth that can lead to prostate cancer.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: Vitamin E and selenium do not decrease prostate cancer incidence: vitamin E may actually increase it
Taking 400 IU of vitamin E every day for over five years made healthy men over 50 17% more likely to get prostate cancer than those who took a sugar pill—so it doesn't help prevent it and might actually cause harm.
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.