Phase 3 clinical trial investigating the effect of selenium supplementation in men at high‐risk for prostate cancer

Study answer

What this study found

Selenium did not reduce prostate cancer incidence or significantly affect PSA velocity versus placebo. For biopsy-proven prostate cancer, the hazard ratio was 0.94 [0.52, 1.7] with 200 mg/day and 0.90 [0.48, 1.7] with 400 mg/day; the overall cancer incidence comparison was not significant (P = 0.88). PSA velocity also was not significant for either dose (P = 0.18 and P = 0.17). Overall, the trial found no apparent role for selenium in prostate cancer chemoprevention in this high-risk population.

Study & population

Phase 3 randomized, double-blind trial conducted at 20 sites in the United States and New Zealand.

Intervention

Men were assigned to oral high-selenium yeast at 200 mg/day or 400 mg/day, taken daily for up to 5 years and compared with placebo.

Key limitation

The active supplement arms were moderate in size, and the study packet provides limited information on attrition, dietary background, and prior supplement use.

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Original abstract