Prostate cancer remains one of the most frequent malignancies in older U.S. men with about 186 000 new cases and 29 000 deaths predictable for 2008. Many people look to vitamin pills for prevention of chronic diseases like cancer though benefits have been few and far between. Several earlier studies suggest that vitamin E may reduce or delay the risk of prostate cancer. The most persuasive data sustaining a role of vitamin E in the prevention of prostate cancer have come from the Finnish ATBC (Alpha-Tocopherol Beta Carotene) Cancer Prevention Trial. This trial was intended to test the outcome of vitamin E and beta carotene on lung cancer risk among existing and past smokers. Although there was no decrease in risk of lung cancer with either agent men assigned to Vitamin E had a 34% reduction in the hazard of prostate cancer (HR 0.66; 95% CI 0.52-0.86). The HOPE-TOO (Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation–The Ongoing Outcomes) trial indicated no reduction in prostate cancer amongst those treated with vitamin E compared with placebo for an average of 7 years (HR 0.98; 95% CI 0.76-1.26). To assess whether long-term vitamin E or C supplementation decreases the risk of prostate and total cancer events among men the Physicians' Health Study (PHS) II a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled factorial trial was carried out by J. Michael Gaziano M.D. M.P.H. of Brigham and Women's Hospital and VA Boston Healthcare System Boston and colleagues. 14 641 men (7 641 from PHS I and 7 000 new physicians) were randomized into PHS II in blocks of 16 and stratified by age; earlier diagnosis of cancer; prior diagnosis of cardiovascular disease; and for the 7641 PHS I participants their original beta carotene treatment assignment. Men were randomly assigned vitamin E or its placebo to receive vitamin C or its placebo and to receive active or placebo beta carotene and multivitamin. Randomization yielded 4 nearly equal-sized groups receiving active vitamin E alone active vitamin C alone both active agents or both placebos. The authors of the new PHS II study reported no support for the use of these supplements in the prevention of cancer in middle-aged and older men. Until further data emerges there is no evidence to support the use of selenium or vitamin E—or any other antioxidant -- for preventing prostate cancer. Both the studies will be published in the January 7 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The findings are released early because of the important public health implications.