Tea complication for men
Tuesday June 19th, 2012
Men who drink large amounts of tea face an increased cancer risk, researchers warn today.
A
study in Scotland, UK, has found that men face a 50 per cent increased
risk of developing prostate cancer if they drink more than seven cups
of the brew daily.
The findings come from a study of more than 6,000 men studied by Glasgow University over a period of 37 years.
The finding is a surprise as some kinds of tea, such as green tea and black tea, have been linked to cancer prevention and improved health.
The researchers say one possibility to explain their findings is that tea-drinkers live longer than others - and male risk of prostate cancer increases with age.
The research also found that tea-drinkers had healthy levels of cholesterol and healthier weight than others and were also more likely than others not to drink alcohol.
About a quarter of the men in the study were tea addicts - and some 6.4 per cent developed prostate cancer.
Researcher Dr Kashif Shafique said: “Most previous research has shown either no relationship with prostate cancer for black tea or some preventive effect of green tea.
"We don’t know whether tea itself is a risk factor or if tea drinkers are generally healthier and live to an older age when prostate cancer is more common anyway."
Tea Consumption and the risk of overall and grade specific prostate cancer: A large prospective cohort study of Scottish Men. Nutrition and Cancer June 2012.
Tags: Cancer | Diet & Food | Men’s Health | UK News
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