title: Vitamin E and selenium supplementation and risk of prostate cancer in the Vitamins and lifestyle (VITAL) study cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Vitamin E and selenium are promising nutrients for the prevention of prostate cancer, and both are currently being tested in a large randomized trial for prostate cancer. However, results are not expected for at least 6 years. We aimed to investigate the association of vitamin E and selenium supplementation with prostate cancer in the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) study, a cohort study specifically designed to examine supplement use and future cancer risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective design, 35,242 men recruited between 2000 and 2002 from western Washington State completed a questionnaire, including detailed questions about vitamin E and selenium supplement intake during the past 10 years from brand-specific multivitamins and single supplements. Using linkage to the western Washington SEER cancer registry, we documented 830 new cases of prostate cancer from baseline through December 2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A 10-year average intake of supplemental vitamin E was not associated with a reduced prostate cancer risk overall [hazard ratio (HR) 0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65-1.1 for > or =400 IU/day vs. non-use, p for trend 0.36]; however, risk for advanced prostate cancer (regionally invasive or distant metastatic, n = 123) decreased significantly with greater intake of supplemental vitamin E (HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.19-1.0 for 10-year average intake > or =400 IU/day vs. non-use, p for trend 0.03). There was no association between selenium supplementation and prostate cancer risk (HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.62-1.3 for 10-year average intake >50 microg/day vs. non-use, p for trend 0.97).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this prospective cohort, long-term supplemental intake of vitamin E and selenium were not associated with prostate cancer risk overall; however, risk of clinically relevant advanced disease was reduced with greater long-term vitamin E supplementation.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109-1024, USA. upeters@fhcrc.org
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Alyson J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Littman
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kristal
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012307:Risk Factors; D018426:SEER Program; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014815:Vitamins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins; D014810:Vitamin E; D012643:Selenium