If your drink 7 cups of tea per day, you are 50 per cent more likely to develop prostate cancer according to a controversial study by Dr Kashif Shafique of Glasgow University's Institute of Health and Wellbeing.
The study observed more than 6,000 male volunteers over a period of 37 years
The findings were published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer.
This contradicts previous research study published in the Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research that men with prostate cancer who consumed the active compounds in green tea shows a significant reduction in serum markers predictive of prostate cancer progression.
The researchers from Scotland point out that their study was not designed to find fault although their study shows that heavy tea drinking is linked to a higher risk for prostate cancer, it is not necessarily the cause of it.
They also admitted to being surprised at the link as heavy tea drinkers are,
* Unlikely to be overweight
* Do not consume alcohol
* Have healthy cholesterol level
To lower your risk of developing prostate cancer, you should reduce your consumption of green tea by one cup per day.
The tea industry rejected the Glasgow University's findings citing previous studies found that there is no link between black tea and prostate cancer.
The Tea Advisory Panel, a health information body funded by the UK Tea council highlight seven other studies concluded in the complete opposite result.
The Panel said the research was flawed as the higher incidence of prostate cancer could be attributed to other factors such as smoking, stress or diet.
If the researchers take into account of the participants’ age, health and lifestyle, they would found those heavy tea drinkers were 50 per cent more likely to develop the disease.
Dr Kashif Shafique, who led the research, said "We do not 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."
However, they have admitted they do not know if the link is just a coincidence; it might be that the heavy tea drinkers just lived to an age when prostate cancer is more common.
But Dr Bill Gorman, chairman of the UK Tea Council, which represents the industry, said: "I notice that Dr Shafique has said that he doesn't know if it is tea itself which increases the likelihood of prostate cancer."
Head of research Dr Kate Holmes pointed out: "The study" did not take into consideration family history or any other dietary elements other than tea, coffee and alcohol intake.
"It is therefore unclear as to whether there were other factors in play which may have had a greater impact on risk."
In the ten years leading up to 2010, the incidence of prostate cancer in Scotland went up by 7.4%. It is the most common cancer amongst Scottish men.
Posted by: Mo Salle
Article Reference:
• Men Who Drink 7 Cups Of Tea Are 50 Percent More Likely To Develop Prostate Cancer
• Green Tea May Slow Prostate Cancer Progression
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• Prostatic Infection And Prostatic Disease In Men
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