Prostate cancer has been in news recently and a recent study reported increased risk of prostate cancer by consumption of eggs. A study out of Cleveland Clinic, which came as a surprise to researchers, establishes link between Vitamin E and prostate cancer. A recommendation was put forth to be cautious of consuming vitamin E supplements.
What is Vitamin E and its sources?
Vitamin E are fat-soluble compounds, including tocopherols and tocotrienols. Y- tocopherol is the most common type of vitamin E and can be found in margarine, soybean oil, corn oil and dressings. α-Tocopherol is the second most common form of vitamin E. It is also the biologically most active, and can be found in sunflower oil, safflower oil, and wheat germ oil.
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that halts the production of reactive oxygen species that are formed when fat is oxidized.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. The cancer cells may spread from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly the bones and lymph nodes. Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating, problems during sexual intercourse, or erectile dysfunction. Many factors, including genetics and diet, have been implicated in the development of prostate cancer.
Vitamin E supplements may increase prostate cancer risk
Dr. Eric Klein of the Cleveland Clinic studied and found that Vitamin E supplements may increase prostate cancer risk. He followed up on men who took high doses of the vitamin for about five years found they had a slightly increased risk of prostate cancer, even after they quit taking the pills.
He warned that people should be careful about using vitamins and other supplements. People tend to think of vitamins as innocuous substances, the study shows that it is not true.
Men randomly assigned to take a 400-unit capsule of vitamin E every day for about five years were 17 % more likely to get prostate cancer than those given dummy pills.
The results indicated that for every 1,000 men who took vitamin E, there were 11 additional cases of prostate cancer, compared with men taking dummy pills.
Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, says they should stop taking large doses and talk to their doctors about risks and benefits from prostate cancer screening. Vitamin E supplements have long been promoted for disease prevention, but scientific research has disproven many claims and suggested they might increase risks for some conditions, including heart failure.
There was no increased risk for men who took both vitamin E and selenium, suggesting that selenium might somehow counter the harmful effects of vitamin E, the study authors said. The researchers said it is unclear how vitamin E would harm the prostate.
In the end it would be good to have Vitamin E through natural sources like fruits, vegetables as suppose to supplements.
Healthy Eating!
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