Green Tea and Cancer Prevention. 

Research Summary: Four to ten+ cups of green tea per day appears to reduce cancer risk, with higher consumptions corresponding to lower risk. 

There is very little clinical research on the effectiveness of Green Tea (or EGCg) in treating or preventing cancer.  Epidemiological studies have linked green tea consumption with lower risk for breast, pancreatic, colon, esophageal, liver, and lung cancers.  The cancer risk reduction was significant enough that Green Tea was one of the four foods mentioned in the 2005 Harvard Health Letter article entitled Cancer: How not to go there.  The other three were soy, ginger and pomegranates. 

####

Scientists have identified at least one of the mechanisms by which EGCG seems to work to fight cancer: it inhibits a key "signaling pathway," called vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is responsible for transmitting instructions at the molecular level to cancer cells, prompting them to grow and multiply. This is the same signaling pathway that is targeted by two FDA-approved drugs Avastin and Erbitux.

####

In vitro studies showed that EGCg concentration attained by drinking just two or three cups of green tea slowed the growth of human lung cancer cells

####

UCLA is currently conducting a 5 year clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness of EGCg and aspirin in preventing cancer in women at high risk for developing breast cancer.

####

Canada is currently conducting a clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness green tea in preventing cancer in former smokers with lung dysplasia.

####

Recent research indicates that EGCg selectively attacks abnormal cells.  More research is required to conclusively prove that EGCg is an effective anti-cancer agent; however, current research suggests that EGCg may be effective against a wide variety of cancers, including:

####

Studies of Japanese populations indicate that towns with the highest green tea consumption have the lowest levels of cancer.

####

© Copyright 2005,HerbalScoop.com

The information contained within this website is strictly for educational and informational purposes. Consult your health practitioner prior to any specific use of any of the referenced within this website.  

Last Updated 10/13/2008