Selenium No Protection against Lung Cancer

The antioxidant mineral selenium was thought to provide protection against cancer. Those hopes have been dashed by a new study from Denmark. Researchers followed over 3,000 older men for 16 years. Blood was drawn at the outset of the study and selenium levels were measured.
Over the course of the study selenium levels made no difference in the risk of dying from lung cancer. When the investigators analyzed the data from men who were heavy smokers, however, they found that those with the highest selenium levels were twice as likely to develop fatal lung cancer. This alarming discovery actually is consistent with other recent research suggesting that extra selenium had no impact on prostate cancer risk. In light of such data, it might be wise not to expect selenium supplements to provide protections against common cancers.
[European Respiratory Journal, online October 27, 2011]