A glass of non-alcoholic red wine a day could have a powerful effect in preventing bowel cancer, according to research published last night.
The wine contains the chemical resveratrol – and a laboratory study has found the amount in a glass may be the best dose to restrain the disease.
Using laboratory mice, researchers compared a low dose treatment of resveratrol with the impact of one 200 times greater, they reported in Science Translational Medicine.
The British researchers say that tests on human tissue samples have suggested a similar effect from low doses.
But, they warn, the chemical may only help people with specific genes, diets and lifestyles.
The effects of drinking red wine could also be counteracted by the harmful effects of alcohol in causing bowel cancer, they warn.
The researchers believe that developing treatments based on resveratrol might be more effective.
Professor Karen Brown, of Leicester University, who conducted the research, said studies on humans were the next step.
She said: “For the first time, we’re seeing that less resveratrol is more. This study shows that low amounts may be better at preventing tumours than taking a high dose.
“The same might be true for other plant-derived chemicals and vitamins that are also being studied for cancer prevention. There should be more research looking at the effects of low doses."
And Dr Julie Sharp, of Cancer Research UK, which backed the research, said: “This research doesn’t mean that having a glass of red wine will reduce your risk of cancer because you can’t separate the resveratrol from the alcohol. And the increase in cancer risk linked to alcohol outweighs any possible benefits of the resveratrol.
“It’s a fascinating study but we need much more research to understand all the pros and cons of someone taking resveratrol to prevent bowel cancer."
Cancer chemoprevention: Evidence of a nonlinear dose response for the protective effects of resveratrol in humans and mice. Sci. Transl. Med. 30 July 2015
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