Vitamin E and Various Effects on Prostate Cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in every 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and 1 in every 41 men will die of the disease in the future. Such alarming rates of prostate cancer diagnosis and death raise concern and call for solutions to lower cases of the disease. In many ways, diet, supplements, and vitamins have all been correlated to improving health metrics and preventing diseases including prostate cancer. Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant, thus theoretically helping reduce the contraction of diseases including cancer. However, studies conducted throughout the past half a century have produced a wide range of results with respect to vitamins and supplements, specifically that of supplemental Vitamin E, and the formation of prostate cancer. Three separate studies examined the use of Vitamin E and its effects on the formation of prostate cancer. The study conducted by Klein et al.1 examined if vitamin E is more effective in lowering the number of prostate cancer cases in men above the age of 50 when compared to selenium, vitamin E and selenium, and a placebo. Similarly, the study by Kirsh et al.2 looked at whether doses greater than 30 IU/day of supplemental vitamin E, B-carotene, and vitamin C are more effective than taking less than 30 IU/day in lowering the number of prostate cancer cases in 29,361 adult male smokers and nonsmokers. Finally, the study completed by Chan et al.3 examined if vitamin E is more effective in lowering prostate cancer cases in nonsmoking, healthy U.S. male health professionals than the vitamin is in lowering prostate cancer cases in smoking individuals and those who quit more than 10 years ago. Despite variations in the study populations, the methods of each study, and a range of other metrics, each study primarily focuses on vitamin E and its correlation to the formation of prostate cancer. The differences and varying methods are addressed in detail in the proceeding paper. Based on the unique methods, results, and conclusions from these three studies, it is difficult to conclude the effects of Vitamin E on the number of prostate cancer cases as it has been shown to increase the risk of prostate cancer, have no association with it at all, and also decrease the risk of prostate cancer.