Group: Bayer ads mislead about prostate

WASHINGTON, June 19 (UPI) -- 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."