Every adult man, sooner or later, will hear about the PSA blood test. It’s a cheap and easy way to screen for prostate cancer. Is it optional? Well, in general, If you’ve never had prostate cancer (PCa), and you have none of the common risk factors for PCa, chances are your doctor will have a brief discussion and let you choose to have one or not. At least, that’s according to the 2018 guidelines for men who have no known risk factors.

However, there may come a time for an estimated 1 out of 8 men when they have no choice but to have an annual PSA test. Once a man is treated for localized PCa, he must monitor his PSA at least once a year (depending on his original diagnosis, treatment results, and life expectancy at the time of treatment). That’s because no treatment comes with an ironclad guarantee of success. There is always a risk, however slight, of recurrence (PCa comes back).

Multivitamins may lower recurrence risk

Researchers are always looking for ways to protect against recurrence after treatment. A new (May 2025) study suggests that one way may be as close as your drugstore’s supplement aisle.

The work by Shee, et al. (May 2025) was a statistical analysis of data on PCa patients.^[i] The results suggest a correlation between patients who reported taking multivitamins and fewer cases of recurrence after treatment.

Here is a summary of their research:

• Through the CaPSURE study the team obtained records on 1396 men with localized PCa who had whole gland treatment (either surgery or radiation) between 1999-2018
• All had a completed questionnaire on file regarding multivitamin use after diagnosis and before any recurrence
• The data was adjusted for sociodemographic factors, clinical factors, and health behaviors
• The analysis revealed that 858 patients (62%) were currently using multivitamins, 227 (16%) were past users, and 311 (22%) had never taken them.
• With an average follow-up of 4.7 years after survey completion, the team found 119 recurrence events.
• When the numbers were correlated, multivitamin use was linked with less recurrence risk, an association even stronger for men with Grade Group 2 (Gleason 3+4) or greater

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that taking multivitamins after being diagnosed with PCa may lower the risk of recurrence after treatment, especially in higher-grade PCa. They note that more research is required, but in fact there have been a number of studies going as far back as 1999 that explore multivitamin use and PCa. Frankly, the results are mixed.

For example, a 1991 paper found “that multivitamin use is not associated with prostate cancer risk, but use of individual supplements of zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin E may be protective.”^[ii] Then, in 2005 a published paper reported “marginally higher” mortality rates for PCa patients who took multivitamins regularly but no additional (vitamin A, C, or E) supplements.^[iii] More recently, a 2022 analysis found no connection one way or the other (higher or lower PCa risk) with “regular or long-duration multivitamin use among older, generally well nourished men.”^[iv] Note: none of these studies focused on recurrence, and the new study does.

Based on all of the above, my recommendations are:

1. Talk with the doctor you see for your regular care about taking supplements, including multivitamins, so the medical person who knows you best can advise you. Also, it’s good to have your supplement use recorded in your chart so your health records are updated.
2. Do your research before purchasing any supplements to make sure they are from a reputable company. Supplements are not regulated, so make sure yours are from a trustworthy source.

I will continue to write about nutritional news as it relates to PCa. Meanwhile, please check out our blogs on nutrition, exercise, and healthy lifestyle choices. Remember that what is good for the heart is also an investment in the health of your prostate.

NOTE: This content is solely for purposes of information and does not substitute for diagnostic or medical advice. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing pelvic pain, or have any other health concerns or questions of a personal medical nature.

References

[i] Shee K, Cedars BE, Wang L, Kenfield SA et al. Multivitamin Use After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Is
Associated with Lower Risk of Recurrence: A Prospective Cohort Study from the Cancer of the Prostate
Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE). Eur Urol Oncol. 2025 May 6:S2588-9311(25)00110-5.
[ii] Kristal AR, Stanford JL, Cohen JH, Wicklund K, Patterson RE. Vitamin and mineral supplement use is associated with reduced risk of prostate cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1999 Oct;8(10):887- 92.
[iii] Stevens VL, McCullough ML, Diver WR, Rodriguez C et al. Use of multivitamins and prostate cancer mortality in a large cohort of US men. Cancer Causes Control. 2005 Aug;16(6):643-50.
[iv] Zhang Y, Song M, Mucci LA, Giovannucci EL. Regular, Long-Duration Multivitamin Use and Risk of Overall and Aggressive Prostate Cancer in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. J Urol. 2022 Sep;208(3):633- 640.