Genetic variant linked to higher risk for taking Selenium

June 25, 2009 It found a higher risk of more-aggressive prostate cancer in men who had a certain genetic variant and used selenium supplements.

But that wasn't an issue for the men in the study who didn't have that gene variant and the supplements appeared to actually help them.

In recent years, supplemental selenium has been sold as a means of preventing prostate cancer. The research findings suggest if a man already has prostate cancer it may be a bad thing to take selenium.

It's important for doctors to determine if the man carries this gene variant.