A Federal funded study by The National Cancer Institute has found that vitamin E and selenium supplements, taken independently or together, do not lessen a man's chances of developing prostate cancer, and could perhaps increase his risk.

The seven-year $114 million study called SELECT for SELenium and vitamin E Cancer prevention Trial used more than 35,000 men at 400 sites across the United States and was stopped earlier than planned when no benefits were seen.

The National Institute of Health, which funded the study said there were slightly more prostrate cancers seen in men who only took vitamin E and slightly more diabetes in men who only took selenium but those effects were so slight that they could be due to chance. A letter sent to study participants by the Southwest Oncology Group, which ran the NCI-funded study said, "The data to date suggest, but do not prove, that vitamin E may slightly increase the chance of getting prostate cancer, and that selenium may increase the chance of getting diabetes mellitus."

The trial opened in 2001 and the participants were given either vitamin E (400 milligrams) and selenium (200 micrograms), vitamin E and placebo, selenium and placebo, or placebos alone. Hopes were pinned on successful results from the study to try to get an inexpensive, and easily available dietary supplement which could help in preventing cancer. Selenium and vitamin E were selected as previous studies had indicated that these taken alone or together could reduce the risk of developing prostrate cancer by 60 % and 30 %.

Eric Klein, MD, study co-chair and Cleveland Clinic researcher said, "SELECT was always designed as a study that would answer more than a single question about prostate cancer. As we continue to monitor the health of these 35,000 men, this information may help us understand why two nutrients that showed strong initial evidence to be able to prevent prostate cancer did not do so."

Edward M. Messing, MD, professor and chairman of urology and deputy director of the Cancer Center at the University of Rochester, N.Y. Messing serves as a SELECT study investigator.

He said "I am afraid it will be the end of the story for large trials of vitamin E and selenium to prevent prostate cancer. For vitamin E, that is unfortunate. Probably if given in a more effective form, it would be a protective or even therapeutic agent."

The study participants will continue to receive regular checkups.