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The Association Between Selenium Levels and Risk of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 16,964 Participants (1980-2024).

  • 2025-10-01
  • Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP 26(10)
    • Mobin Ghaderi
    • Farhad Moradpour
    • Hassan Moaiery
    • Sina Fattahi
    • Hojat Dehghanbanadaki
    • Yousef Moradi

Study Design

Type
Meta-Analysis
Population
eleven studies investigating the relationship between plasma or serum selenium and prostate cancer risk
Methods
systematic review and meta-analysis approach, conducting a comprehensive literature search across international databases such as PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase with relevant keywords; statistical analysis using STATA version 17

Background

Numerous studies worldwide have explored the link between selenium levels and prostate cancer, yet their findings remain inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify this association by synthesizing results from analytical observational studies, including cohort and case-control studies. The insights from this meta-analysis could significantly impact healthcare decisions, clinical management, and treatment guideline updates.

Method

This study utilized a systematic review and meta-analysis approach, conducting a comprehensive literature search across international databases such as PubMed (Medline), Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase with relevant keywords. Articles were screened at the title, abstract, and full-text levels, followed by a quality assessment using the NOS checklist. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA version 17.

Results

After pooling data from eleven studies investigating the relationship between plasma or serum selenium and prostate cancer risk, findings indicated that higher selenium levels were associated with an 11% reduced risk of prostate cancer (RR= 0.89; 95% CI: 0.83 - 0.95; P-value= 0.03; I square= 34.46%). When selenium dosage was considered, with doses below 70 μg as the reference, individuals exposed to 130-160 μg exhibited a reduced cancer risk of 0.85 (RR= 0.85; 95% CI: 0.76 - 0.96; P-value= 0.18; I square= 27.37%), while those exposed to doses of 160 μg or higher had an RR of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.69 - 1.15; P-value= 0.19; I square= 0.00%). Additionally, an inverse relationship was found between selenium levels in toenails and prostate cancer risk (RR= 0.61; 95% CI: 0.50 - 0.75; P-value= 0.63; I square= 0.00%) and advanced prostate cancer (RR= 0.73; 95% CI: 0.67 - 0.80; P-value= 0.00; I square= 69.79%).

Conclusion

This meta-analysis suggests that selenium may have a protective effect against prostate cancer. Strategies to optimize selenium intake should be considered for prostate cancer prevention and management.

Research Insights

  • Selenium→Reduced Advanced Prostate Cancer Risk

    and advanced prostate cancer (RR= 0.73; 95% CI: 0.67 - 0.80; P-value= 0.00; I square= 69.79%)

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    measured in toenails (no dosing intervention)
  • Selenium→Reduced Prostate Cancer Risk

    findings indicated that higher selenium levels were associated with an 11% reduced risk of prostate cancer (RR= 0.89; 95% CI: 0.83 - 0.95; P-value= 0.03; I square= 34.46%).

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    measured in toenails (no dosing intervention)
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