[Demand for and clinical practice of complementary selenium therapy in prostate cancer patients]

Background: Selenium supplementation is a popular and broadly adopted complementary oncological treatment option. The aim of the study was the evaluation of the necessity and the indication for selenium therapy in prostate cancer patients.

Methods: 295 consecutive patients after radical prostatectomy were evaluated for oncological, basic laboratory and lifestyle characteristics. The selenium level was measured using graphite furnace atom absorption spectroscopy.

Results: The median selenium level was 103.4 (72.9–142.1) μg/l. Correlations were found between a low selenium level and progressed cancer disease, positive lymph node status, chronic nicotine and alcohol abuse, and chronic multiple medications.

Conclusion: Based on a documented low selenium level in 96.3% of investigated prostate cancer patients and the known consequences of an insufficient selenium supply, a targeted selenium supplementation is recommended. Selenium therapy should be part of an individual medical nutritional and lifestyle intervention.