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Researchers Suggest
Tea May Prevent Some Forms of Cancer
Tea plays a possible role in preventing
some types of cancer according to researcher, Dr. John Weisburger. His report was
presented at the Second International Scientific Symposium on Tea and Human Health in
Washington, DC on September 14, 1998.
"The antioxidants in tea prevent the formation of
hazardous products that occur in the body during normal metabolic reactions," Dr.
Weisburger said. "The antioxidants in tea lower the formation of these dangerous
oxidized form of chemicals that may cause cancer in the human body."
Antioxidants are certain nutrients in fruits, vegetables
and in this case, tea, which appear to protect the body against oxygen-induced damage to
tissues that occurs constantly as a result of normal metabolism. Antioxidants are thought
to protect against cancers, especially those that appear to be related to diet.
"Initially such research was carried out in Japan and
China because of their customs involving green tea. Now, a number of scientists in Europe
and the US have investigations on black tea. Tea is one of the most widely consumed
beverages, second only to water. It has been popular for over 4000 years," Weisburger
added. The most common form of tea sold in the US is often labeled as orange pekoe, pekoe
or cut black tea.
Dr. Junshi Chen from the Chinese Academy of Preventative
Medicine in Beijing stated for the first time his research and clinical trials point to
the protective effects of tea on humans with cancer. He used a liquid mixture of green and
black tea which was rubbed on precancerous lesions. This treatment significantly reduced
the growth of pre-cancerous cells. Dr. Chen's research showed tea slowed the development
of lung tumors and colon cancer in mice.
"In the last five years, we have studied on a
comparative manner, green tea and ordinary black tea that is available in any
supermarket," Dr. Weisburger added. Black tea is just as effective in cancer
prevention as is green tea. They are identical because they come from the same tea
leaf."
Researchers at the conference agree further research is
needed to determine the value of tea in preventing cancer of various types, to test tea's
effectiveness in treating pre-cancerous conditions, and to better understand substances in
tea that seem to be most beneficial.
Last year, professor Lenore Kohlmeier of the University of
North Carolina at Chapel Hill published a study in Nutrition and Cancer stating,
"The epidemiologic studies on tea drinking and stomach cancer do not justify claims
of a cancer-protective effect. A protective effect of green tea on the development of
colon cancer is suggested. The evidence regarding black tea is less clear, with some
indication of a risk of colon or rectal cancer with regular use of black tea."
The ACS publication, Nutrition and Cancer Prevention
states, "In animal studies, some teas have been shown to reduce cancer risk, but
beneficial effects of tea on cancer risk in people are not yet proven."
      Copyright © 1998 Tealand.
All rights reserved.
Revised:
May 11, 2008.
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