Evidence that red wine could prevent prostate cancer
has provided evidence that red wine could reduce the risk of
prostate cancer, and that general alcohol consumtion has no
negative effect.
1,456 men between the ages of 40 and 64 participated in the study: 753 newly diagnosed with prostate cancer cases and 703 control subjects.
All participants were interviewed about their lifetime alcohol consumption and other risk factors for prostate cancer.
Data collected from this interview on the amount of red wine, beer and spirits consumed over a lifetime was set against a variable that encompassed the presence of a tumour, its grade and stage.
No association with prostate cancer risk were seen for overall alcohol consumption of red wine, beer or spirits; suggesting a neutral relationship between general alcohol consumption and prostate cancer. Previous studies had suggested that risk increased with increasing lifetime alcohol consumption.
But, for each additional glass of red wine consumed a week, a 6 per cent decrease was shown in relative risk. In fact, there was evidence of a decline in risk across increasing categories of red wine intake.
Although the authors concede that their study is only the second to evaluate the effects of wine by its type, the findings certainly highlight the need for further research to understand the positive effects of polyphenols, especially tannins, in rich foods and beverages.
