A glass of red wine a day may reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 50 per cent, claims a study by researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Red wine's protective effect seems to be strongest against the most aggressive forms of prostate cancer, the study concluded.

The researchers interviewed 753 prostate cancer patients and 703 healthy men in the Seattle area.

"We found that men who consumed four or more glasses of red wine per week reduced their risk of prostate cancer by 50 per cent," senior author Janet L. Stanford said in a prepared statement.

"Among men who consumed four or more 4-ounce glasses of red wine per week, we saw about a 60 per cent lower incidence of the more aggressive types of prostate cancer. The more clinically aggressive prostate cancer is where the strongest reduction in risk was observed," Stanford said.

The study found that beer, hard liquor, and white wine had no impact on prostate cancer risk. The findings appear online in the current issue of the International Journal of Cancer.

Red wine contains an antioxidant called resveratrol, which is abundant in the skin of red grapes. Previous research suggested that resveratrol, which is also found in raspberries and peanuts and is available as a dietary supplement, may protect against cardiovascular disease.

Reference Source 39
October 4, 2004

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