Green tea may help prevent prostate cancer: Study
POSTED June 20, 2009 - 22:06 | POSTED BY Pankhuri Kapoor
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on June 20, 2009 - 22:38
Dr James Cardelli, from the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center in Philadelphia carried out this study that tested the compound for Vacular Endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), indicators of cancer development.
Research and the findings
26 men between the age groups of 41-72 years, who were suffering from prostate cancer and who had been scheduled for radical prostate surgery, participated in this study.
The participants of the research consumed four capsules containing Polyphenon E, which is equivalent to 12 cups of normal green tea, for 34 days before the surgery.
It was found that there was a significant reduction in levels of VEGF, HGF and PSA in all these respondents and some participants demonstrated a reduction of more than 30 percent.
Breakthrough invention
Past research has underlined the benefits of consumption of green tea in curing ailments like cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease, but the current study has established the reason for the same.
John Neate, chief executive of the Prostate Cancer Charity, said, “These initial positive findings could indicate that green tea could have a place in active surveillance, where a slow-growing, low risk tumor is monitored for changes and men want to take something which could help keep progression at bay.”
Dr Cardelli concluded, “We think that the use of tea polyphenons alone or in combination with other compounds currently used for cancer therapy should be explored as an approach to prevent cancer progression and recurrence.”
The research has been published in Cancer Prevention Research, a U.S. based journal.
