WASHINGTON, Jun 19, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A U.S. advocacy group notified
Bayer Healthcare it will sue if the company continues to claim the selenium in
its vitamins may reduce prostate cancer risk.
David Schardt, senior nutritionist at The Center for Science in the Public
Interest in Washington, said advertisements and labels for One A Day Men's
50-plus Advantage and One A Day Men's Health Formula multivitamins claim
"emerging research" suggests selenium may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
However, leading prostate cancer researchers say there is scant evidence to
support such a claim and have joined CSPI in urging the Federal Trade Commission
to put an immediate stop to the claims, Schardt says.
"Bayer is exploiting men's fear of prostate cancer just to sell more pills,"
Schardt says in a statement. "The largest prostate cancer prevention trial has
found that selenium is no more effective than a placebo. Bayer is ripping people
off when it suggests otherwise in these dishonest ads."
A seven-year study found last year that selenium does not prevent prostate
cancer in healthy men, Schardt says.
"We are aware of CSPI's complaint and are in the process of reviewing their
allegations, in the meantime, we stand behind all claims made in support of our
products, including One A Day multivitamins," Bayer officials said in a
statement to WebMD. "The claims made in support of selenium are based on an
FDA-approved qualified health claim."
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International