Prior research had suggested that Selenium and vitamin E either taken alone or in combination could potentially lower a man’s risk for prostate cancer.   Now a more recent randomized clinical trial found just the opposite: not only do these supplements not prevent prostate cancer; they may actually put people’s health at risk. Vitamin E and selenium are antioxidants that exist in relatively small amounts in food. More than 35 000 men from United States Canada and Puerto Rico took part in the study called SELECT trial making it one of the largest and best studies of a vitamin or supplement. SELECT stands for the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial a prevention clinical trial to see if one or both of these dietary supplements prevent prostate cancer. This is the reason why the National Cancer Institute (NCI) have suggested the participants to discontinue the intake of selenium and vitamin E supplements they had been given. However their health will still be monitored for an estimated three more years. According to NCI two more worrying trends came into the picture during the study but were proved statistically incorrect. U.S. researchers found slightly increased cases of prostate cancer in participants who only took vitamin E.   Those who only took selenium suffered slightly increased risk of diabetes. Earlier smaller studies had suggested that the nutrients might help but instead they've become latest failures in an endeavor to find cancer-preventing dietary supplements.  Vitamin A was a similar notorious failure in prevention of progression of oral leukoplakia to oral cancer in tobacco users. Researchers were of the view that they haven't finished their final analysis of the data so those trends could be the result of chance rather than a real danger from supplements. But they have asked the participants to stop taking the pills. Researchers will continue to follow the men for three years. According to the NCI those in study will continue to have checkups which may include prostate cancer screenings Researchers will also keep blood samples which will help doctors to study prostate cancer and other diseases. The study had been scheduled to run through 2011 enough time for latest-enrolling participants to have taken the supplements for seven years. Some research believes that a drug already used for an enlarged prostate finasteride can help prevent prostate cancer; however some side effects are involved. Researchers are exploring to find out whether lycopene a plant-based substance might drive down the risk of prostate cancer for men. Dr. Eric Klein national study coordinator for SELECT and vice chairman of the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute at the Cleveland Clinic said “Everyone believes things that are natural are good for you. That’s not always the case.” Are you aware?In recent years several major studies of vitamins and supplements have produced disappointing results showing that the treatment didn’t help and sometimes appeared to cause more harm.