Two pints of beer are seen in a London pub. A report drawn up for the European Commission suggested slapping health warnings on alcoholic drinks along the lines of those now common on tobacco products.(AFP/File/Carl De Souza)
Posted on 06/12/2006 3:06:58 PM PDT by Libloather
Beer ingredient may fight prostate cancer
Mon Jun 12, 7:50 AM ET
Two pints of beer are seen in a London pub. A report drawn up for the European Commission suggested slapping health warnings on alcoholic drinks along the lines of those now common on tobacco products.(AFP/File/Carl De Souza)
CORVALLIS, Ore. - A main ingredient in beer may help prevent prostate cancer and enlargement, according to a new study. But researchers say don't rush out to stock the refrigerator because the ingredient is present in such small amounts that a person would have to drink more than 17 beers to benefit.
Oregon State University researchers say the compound xanthohumol, found in hops, inhibits a specific protein in the cells along the surface of the prostate gland.
The protein acts like a signal switch that turns on a variety of animal and human cancers, including prostate cancer.
Cancer typically results from uncontrolled cell reproduction and growth. Xanthohumol belongs to a group of plant compounds called flavonoids, which can trigger the programmed cell death that controls growth, researchers say.
Xanthohumol was first discovered in hops in 1913, but its health effects were not known until about 10 years ago, when it was first studied by Fred Stevens, assistant professor of medicinal chemistry at OSU's College of Pharmacy.
Last fall, Stevens published an update on xanthohumol in the journal Phytochemistry that drew international attention.
Stevens says it possible for drug companies to develop pills containing concentrated doses of the flavonoid found in the hops used to brew beer.
He also says researchers could work to increase the xanthohumol content of hops.
There are already a number of food supplements on the market containing hops, and scientists in Germany have developed a beer that contains 10 times the amount of xanthohumol as traditional brews. The drink is being marketed as a healthy beer, but research is still under way to determine if it has any effect against cancer.
The latest Oregon State University research was published in a recent issue of Cancer Letters.
I may qualify as a donor...
If it can make women better looking, it can fight cancer.
17 beers? Damn, I'm gonna hafta cut back. Or not.
I'll do what it takes to save my prostate! CHEERS and to hell with my Liver!!!!
Just think. Ted Kennedy may live to be 300 years old!
This is the best news I've heard all day.
BTW - Any bets on how long it will take for the beer manufacturers to beef up the quantity of the beneficial ingredient and market it?
"Bud Prostate".
So I guess I'll have to have plenty of beer, wine, and spaghetti (with tomato sauce)
to cancel out that order of blackened steak (loaded with carcinogens).
Better living through chemistry!
Now THAT'S a scientific advancement I can easily endorse, 'Healthy Beer'. Um, good.
At first I thought "The Feminists of Canada" would sue "The Brewers of Canada"
for that advert.
But then I realized they should thank the brewers...because too
many brews is the only way some feminists are gonna' lure in a male.
Posted by Mr. Lucky ping.
This study brought to you by....
This is on par with the recent finding that pizza is anti-cancer. Actually, it is much weaker. Pizza has tomatoes and tomato sauce, which can be eaten in much healthier ways but which are clearly healthy. Beer isn't healthy, period.
And the good news keeps coming...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1648112/posts
Is that 17 beers a day? A week? An hour? What? And can I deduct my brewskis as a medicinal expense?
That would be about 1 Sierra Nevada or about a sip of stout.
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