CaPLESS & Prostate Cancer
Green Tea protection against prostate cancer – new study
Drinking 6 cups of green tea a day seems to protect against prostate cancer.
Details to the study:
- 67 men were studied before their scheduled prostatectomy
- Researchers randomly assigned the men to either six cups of brewed green tea or water daily for three to eight weeks, depending on the timing of their surgery.
- PSA was significantly lower in the green tea group compared with baseline levels.
- Upon studying the prostate tissue after surgery, researchers noticed less PSA expression in men consuming green tea.
- Nuclear factor kappa B, an inflammatory marker known to contribute to prostate cancer, was significantly reduced in the group consuming green tea.
- Lastly, a urinary DNA marker for oxidative stress was significantly less in green tea drinkers versus those drinking purely water.
My take on this and doggy bag message:
The protective effects of green tea on prostate cancer are not new.
A large prospective cohort study of 49,920 men aged 40–69 years and their green tea consumption habits was conducted by the Japan Public Health Centre between 1990 and 2004 indicating the protective effects of drinking 5 cups of green tea a day (Kurahashi et al 2008).
Another randomized trial looking at 60 patients with High Grade Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (HGPIN) wanted to know if taking green tea extract supplement pills protected men from prostate cancer. About 30% of HGPIN cells become cancerous within 1 year after biopsy. After 1 year, only one tumor was diagnosed among the 30 green tea-treated men (incidence, ∼3%), whereas nine cancers were found among the 30 placebo-treated men (incidence of 30%). (Bettuzi et l 2006.)
There are over 200 published papers in the scientific literature indicating green tea’s protective properties against prostate cancer.
Bottom line: Green tea is protective against prostate cancer. Most studies prove that. Some physician’s are suggesting waiting for larger randomized trials before suggesting green tea consumption. That’s absurd. No need to wait. Rather than drinking plain water drink green tea- about 5 to 6 cups a day. If 5 cups a day is not practical, consume green tea extract supplements or targeted supplement formulas that contain green tea extract.
Please share with friends if you find this posting valuable. Very grateful as always.
Reference:
Kurahashi N, Sasazuki S, Iwasaki M, Inoue M, Tsugane S. Green tea consumption and prostate cancer risk in Japanese men: a prospective study. Am J Epidemiol 2008; 167: 71–7
Bettuzzi S, Brausi M, Rizzi F, Castagnetti G, Peracchia G, Corti A. Chemoprevention of human prostate cancer by oral administration of green tea catechins in volunteers with high-grade prostate intraepithelial neoplasia: a preliminary report from a one-year proof-of-principle study. Cancer Res 2006; 66: 1234–40
Tagged Green tea and prostate cancer, Green tea study, Green tea supplements and prostate cancer
Moses GoldbergOctober 24, 2012 at 1:01 am
Hi Geo –
Would that mean 350 of Green Tea extract (@ x day) if one could not drink that much tea?
For then running to the bathroom 6 times a day and then one would need another herb for that ! ; )
Dr. GeoOctober 24, 2012 at 4:44 amAuthor
Thanks Moses. Yes, that much green tea will cause some urinary frequency – not all though. There is not as much caffeine in green tea as there is in coffee, for example.
The amount of green tea extract that was used in the HGPIN study was 600mg a day. I use between 200 to 400mg in a comprehensive formula.
ChristopherOctober 24, 2012 at 9:07 am
Hi Dr. Geo –
I’ve not been able to find an answer to these questions (well, with any confidence in those answers at least) by searching online and was hoping you might shed some light.
First, does adding Stevia as a sweetener take away any of the protective effects of green tea? Second, does brewing a large amount of green tea at once and then storing it also have any detrimental effects? Or should the tea be brewed immediately before serving?
Thanks!
Dr. GeoOctober 24, 2012 at 9:21 amAuthor
Good questions Chris.
1. Stevia will not take away the protective effects of green tea. Still, try without any sweetener. Yes, it is a bit bitter – but you will get use to it (acquired taste).
2. Storing green tea in a tight lid container will keep its protective properties for about 1 day.
3. Brewing before serving is always the preference but not so practical all the time. #2 is OK.
Best to you.
margaret ellisNovember 18, 2012 at 7:02 pm
my husband has an increasing psa – risin from 4.4 to 5.4 in the past 1.5 yrs – we have not done trug bx because of the insensitivity -dre minimally abnormal with one side slightly firmer than the other; + family hx of prostate cancer both sides of his family – currently taking propollis, pomegranate, green tea, VItamin d3, fish oil – do you have suggestions? thank you – margaret