Red wine lowers prostate cancer risk

Consumption of red wine may reduce the risk of prostate cancer in middle-aged men.Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, USA studied the data from 753 newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients between the ages of 40 - 64 years. They also studied a comparison group of 703 matched controls to assess the association between alcohol consumption and prostate cancer.The men were evaluated on the basis of the interviews completed in person, about alcohol consumption and other risk factors for prostate cancer. It was found that there were no clear associations between the risk of prostate cancer and overall alcohol consumption. However, each additional glass of red wine per week, consumed by these men per week showed a statistically significant 6% decrease in relative risk of prostate cancer.

Researchers found that alcohol alters the balance of hormones and it contains chemical substances such as flavonoids in red wine, which may alter tumour cell growth.The findings highlight the need for further research on the biological effects of polyphenol rich foods and beverages, including red wine.