title: [Demand for and clinical practice of complementary selenium therapy in prostate cancer patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Selenium supplementation is a popular and broadly adopted complementary oncological treatment option. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the necessity and the indication for selenium therapy in prostate cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  295 consecutive patients after radical prostatectomy were evaluated for oncological, basic laboratory and lifestyle characteristics. The selenium level was measured using graphite furnace atom absorption spectroscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median selenium level was 103.4 (72.9–142.1) μg/l. Correlations were found between a low selenium level and progressed cancer disease, positive lymph node status, chronic nicotine and alcohol abuse, and chronic multiple medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on a documented low selenium level in 96.3% of investigated prostate cancer patients and the known consequences of an insufficient selenium supply, a targeted selenium supplementation is recommended. Selenium therapy should be part of an individual medical nutritional and lifestyle intervention.
authors.affiliation: Gesundheitszentrum Bad Elster und Vogtland-Klinik Bad Elster, Deutschland. dh.zermann@vogtland-klinik.de
authors.forename: Dirk-Henrik
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Zermann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000639:trends; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D012643:Selenium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012643:Selenium