New study casts doubt on green tea’s anti-cancer properties
By Trish Harris
October 14th, 2009Posted in Health, Herbal Teas
The evidence for green tea's cancer prevention properties is not as strong as once thought
A review of 51 previous studies of green tea’s health benefits has concluded the jury is still out on whether it really can help in cancer prevention.
But the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews has said drinking three to five cups of green tea a day is safe.
The author’s research found some evidence that green tea could reduce the incidence of liver cancer, breast cancer and, in men, prostate cancer, but consumption may actually increase one’s chances of developing urinary bladder cancer.
The evidence was conflicting for oesophagal, gastric, colon, rectum and pancreas cancers. However there was “limited moderate to strong evidence” that it provides protection for lung, pancreatic and colorectal cancers.
The authors concluded: “There is insufficient and conflicting evidence to give any firm recommendations regarding green tea consumption for cancer prevention.
“The results of this review, including its trends of associations, need to be interpreted with caution and their generalisability is questionable, as the majority of included studies were carried out in Asia where the tea drinking culture is pronounced.”
They added: “If not exceeding the daily recommended allowance, those who enjoy a cup of green tea should continue its consumption. Drinking green tea appears to be safe at moderate, regular and habitual use.”
Last month the Feist-Weiller Cancer Centre in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, concluded that drinking the equivalent of 12 cups of green tea a day could help in the fight against prostate cancer.
It said that a green tea extract –epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) – has anti-oxidant properties and can prove effective in slowing the progression of prostate cancer.
Other studies have found its usefulness in reducing stroke risks and for its uses in combating the virus HPV, which is linked with cervical cancer and is the most common STD in America.
Another study has suggested that green tea reduces stroke risk by 60%.
Contact Trish Harris at trish@allabouttea.co.uk
Read other articles by Trish Harris
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