Higher vitamin E levels reduce prostate cancer risk

In a Brief Communication published in the March 2, 2005 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, researchers analyzed data from the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study, which found an association between supplementation with vitamin E and lower risk of prostate cancer among 29,133 men.

For the current study, the researchers selected 100 participants who had developed prostate cancer during the ATBC study follow-up, and matched them with 200 subjects who did not have the disease.

Based on blood samples taken at the beginning of the study, men with serum levels of alpha-tocopherol within the top one-third of participants had a 51 percent lower risk of developing prostate cancer than those whose levels were in the lowest third. Those with higher gamma- tocopherol levels were similarly protected, with a 43 percent reduction in risk.

In addition, the reduction in cancer risk was even greater in those taking vitamin E supplements, providing evidence that alpha-tocopherol supplements were beneficial and did not negatively impact gamma-tocopherol status.