Selenium and Vitamin E do not help prevent prostate cancer.

A large randomized trial has demonstrated that men taking vitamin E supplements experienced a small but statically significant increase in their risk of prostate cancer. Participants were part of the SELECT (Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial) and were 50 years and older. The authors noted that this study demonstrated that these supplements do not prevent cancer.

PositiveTip: All should be skeptical of health claims for unregulated, over-the-counter products in the absence of strong clinical evidence of benefit.

Nutrient supplements continue to struggle in proving any real worth.

A study of 14,641 older male physicians for an average of 8 years has quashed hopes that supplements of vitamins C and E might reduce the risk of cataracts. The rate of cataracts between those getting vitamin C or E instead of the placebo was almost identical. Researchers had hoped that longer supplementation might be useful, but the study concluded that it is not.

PositiveTip: Eat vitamin E and C rich foods in your diet, but save your money and skip supplements --at least when it comes to preventing cataracts.

Vitamin E supplements found to increase risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

An international group of researchers examined data from nine trials involving 120,000 subjects who had been randomized to receive either vitamin E or placebo supplements and had been followed for more than a year. While Vitamin E supplements had no significant effect on overall stroke risk, the supplements increased hemorrhagic stroke by 22% and reduced ischemic stroke by 10%. In light of these findings, the authors discourage the widespread use of Vitamin E supplements.

PositiveTip: It is generally better to look to simple, positive lifestyle changes to lower disease risk, than to supplements.

Eating foods with plenty of Vitamin E seems to lower risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Vitamin E is back in the spotlight, following dashed hopes that supplementing with this nutrient would result in many health benefits.

A new prospective Dutch study has found that those who consumed the most dietary Vitamin E at the beginning of the study experienced 25% less dementia and Alzheimer's Disease during almost 10 years of follow-up. Dietary sources of Vitamin E were primarily were primarily vegetable oils, margarine, butter and mayonnaise.

PositiveTip: A dietary pattern that includes healthy oils may substantially reduce your risk of dementia later in life.

What is the most effective way to prevent type 2 diabetes? Eat less and exercise more!

It is predicted that by 2025 more than 300 million people worldwide will have type 2 diabetes! In the US alone the number of people with diabetes almost doubled between 1976 and 1994. Sedentary living and excess weight are considered to be the major risk factors for this debilitating disease. Many are the strategies that have been developed to reduce diabetes risk.