Selenium may protect against bladder cancer

Boosting selenium levels may help to significantly reduce a woman's risk of developing bladder cancer, new research suggests.

Researchers measured selenium levels in the toenails of 767 people with bladder cancer and 1,108 people without the disease.  Whilst no link was found between selenium levels and bladder cancer risk for the population as a whole, the mineral did significantly reduce the risk of bladder cancer in certain groups of people – women, moderate smokers, and those with p53 positive cancer.

"Ultimately, if it is true that selenium can prevent a certain subset of individuals, like women, from developing bladder cancer, or prevent certain types of tumors, such as those evolving through the p53 pathway, from developing, it gives us clues about how the tumors could be prevented in the future and potentially lead to chemopreventive efforts," said lead researcher Margaret Karagas in a news release.

News release: Selenium may prevent high risk-bladder cancer. American Association for Cancer Research. December 8th 2008.