September/October 2004
HEALTH BYTES

Selenium lowers risk of prostate cancer

      New research has found that men who consume high levels of dietary selenium, an antioxidant, have a significantly lower risk of prostate cancer. Additionally, high selenium levels in the body appeared to reduce levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein that appears in high levels in men with prostate cancer. The study of 586 men diagnosed with prostate cancer found that men with an elevated PSA can reduce their risk of prostate cancer by as much as 50 percent. Nuts, especially Brazil nuts, are rich in selenium, and the antioxidant is also found in most fruits, vegetables and shellfish, and some meats.

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