Study: Red Wine Slows Lung Cancer, White Raises Risk

From: Roman Bystrianyk (rbystrianyk_at_gmail.com)
Date: 10/28/04 

Date: 28 Oct 2004 08:58:07 -0700

http://www.healthsentinel.com/news.php?event=news_print_list_item&id=356

Mohammed Abbas, "Study: Red Wine Slows Lung Cancer, White Raises
Risk", Reuters UK, October 28, 2004,
Link: http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=LZYZXFVRXWQY2CRBAEZSFEY?type=healthNews&storyI

Drinking red wine could protect against lung cancer, but white wine
may increase the risk, Spanish scientists said on Thursday.

They examined the effects of different types of wine on lung cancer,
the most common and deadly form of the disease.

"Consumption of red wine ... was associated with a slight but
statistically significant reduction in the development of lung
cancer," Professor Juan Barros-Dios, of the University of Santiago de
Compostela, said in a study in the journal Thorax.

Red wine contains tannins and resveratrol, substances which he said
could explain the drink's anti-cancer properties.

Tannins act as antioxidants, which mop up free radicals -- particles
harmful to cells. Resveratrol is known to fight cancer tumour growth.

"We have known for a while that drinking a little red wine can protect
against a number of conditions, from the common cold to coronary heart
disease. This new research suggests that red wine, in moderation,
could also protect against lung cancer, said Professor Andrew Pea***
of the British Thoracic Society

The scientists could find no explanation why white wine appeared to
increase lung cancer risk.

"We really don't know how to explain this result. Maybe it highlights
the difference in red and white wine composition," Dr Alberto
Ruano-Ravina, who worked on the research, explained in a telephone
interview.

But the scientists emphasized the risk was very slight and only 39
white wine drinkers were studied.

Barros-Dios was careful not to encourage binge drinking to combat the
disease, which the latest World Health Organization figures show
killed 1.2 million people in 2000.

"It would be extremely risky -- and even dangerous -- for
recommendations to be drawn up endorsing high consumption of red wine
for the prevention of lung cancer," he said in the study.

The researchers stressed the aim of the study was to investigate red
wine's anti-cancer components, not to determine how much wine would
ward off cancer.

"We do not recommend drinking if you want to prevent lung cancer,"
Ruano-Ravina said, adding that smokers should quit.

The effects of wine drinking were studied in 132 people with lung
cancer and 187 people who were in hospital for non-tobacco related
minor surgery in the northwestern Santiago de Compostela district of
Spain.