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Green tea may prevent prostate cancer

Category: Colon

Recent research, which was presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research in Anaheim, California, shows that green tea may be beneficial for decreasing inflammation and help reduce the chance of developing prostate cancer.

"This research offers new insights into the mechanisms by which green tea consumption may reduce the risk for prostate cancer by opposing processes such as inflammation, which are associated with prostate cancer growth," said research author, Susanne M. Henning, Ph.D., R.D.

The study looked at 67 men with prostate cancer prior to their prostatectomy, an operation in which part of the prostate gland is removed. The men were randomly assigned to either drink six cups of green tea a day or six cups of water a day for three to eight weeks. The researchers also analyzed blood and urine samples, which were taken before and after the beverages were consumed, as well as samples from the prostate tissue, which was collected during the prostatectomy.

According to the results, the men who drank the green tea had a lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration at the end of the study. PSAs, which can be detected with a blood test, are prostate-produced proteins, and high levels of them may indicate prostate cancer. The research also showed that the green tea may be linked to a reduction in nuclear factor kappa B, which is an indicator of inflammation.

Other benefits of green tea
According to Harvard Medical School (HMS), green tea is loaded with antioxidants known as flavonoids, and it's also rich in catechins, which are more effective than vitamin C and vitamin E in preventing the oxidative damage of cells. Research has shown that green tea may help reduce the risk of skin, breast, lung, colon, esophageal, and bladder cancer. It also has been shown to decrease the risk of heart disease.