Prostate news article, February 2005
| EACH GLASS OF
RED WINE DRUNK BY A MIDDLE AGED MAN MAY REDUCE HIS RISK OF PROSTATE
CANCER
Schoonen WM, Salinas CA, Kiemeney ALM, Stanford JL. International Journal of Cancer 2005; 113:133-140. Reviewed by: Dr Charlotte Foley MA BMBCh MRCS |
An article in the International Journal of Cancer has proposed that red wine consumption is protective against prostate cancer. Until now, other studies that have looked at alcohol intake as a prostate cancer risk factor found either no effect, or an increased risk at high levels of use (>22 "drinks"/week). Alcohol is also implicated in the development of mouth and throat cancers.
This study interviewed 753 newly diagnosed middle-aged prostate cancer patients and 703 age matched controls. Their lifelong alcohol habits, choice of beverage and prostate cancer history were assessed using an elaborate scoring process.
Overall, total alcohol, beer, liquor and white wine consumption were not associated with prostate cancer risk. With red wine however, every additional glass of red wine drunk per week showed a statistically significant 6% decrease in relative risk. Men drinking 4-7 glasses/week were almost a quarter less likely to have the disease (a relative risk reduction of 48%). Though, on a cautionary note, as this was only tested for up to 8 or more glasses, it is still possible that at greater volumes alcohol could be harmful as previously thought. In real (and less-impressive) terms, 6% relative risk reduction equates to a lowered incidence of prostate cancer from 110 men per 100,000 (in the USA) to 103 men per 100,000; i.e. seven men would be spared prostate cancer if all 100,000 took a glass of red each week.
This is a careful study, which modelled the lifetime exposure to alcohol, not just current habits, though interviews can be subjective. The controls may have harboured undiagnosed cancer, but the young age (40-64) of the patients would help limit these numbers, which would have tended to water down any differences between the groups anyway. Conclusive studies are still needed, however this health promotion measure is still more palatable than some.
Alcohol consumption and risk of prostate cancer in middle-aged men.International Journal Cancer 2005; 113:133-140.