Red Wine and Lung Cancer
Reported October 07, 2008
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Previous studies have shown antioxidants in red wine protect against heart disease, breast cancer and stroke. Now, you may be able to add lung cancer to that list.
Researchers tested the effects of beer, red wine, white wine and liquor consumption on lung cancer risk. Data showed an average two percent lower lung cancer risk associated with each glass of red wine consumed per day. The biggest risk reduction was among smokers who drank one to two glasses of red wine per day; their lung cancer risk was reduced 60 percent. However, researchers caution these men still face higher lung cancer risk than do non-smokers.
Red wine is known to contain high levels of antioxidants, Chun Chao, Ph.D., a researcher assistant at Kaiser Permanente Department of Research and Evaluation. There is a compound called resveratrol that is very rich in red wine because it is derived from the grape skin. This compound has shown significant health benefits in preclinical studies.
Dr. Chao cautions their findings should not be construed to recommend heavy alcohol consumption.
SOURCE: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 2008