One glass of antioxidant-rich red wine a day slashes men’s risk of prostate cancer by more than 10% – but Chardonnay has the opposite effect, study finds
- Glass of red wine a day reduces the risk by 12%, however, white raises it by 26%
- Red wine contains 10 times more antioxidants, which may explain the findings
- Same antioxidants have previously been linked to a reduced blood-clotting risk
- Experts say men can lower their risk by not smoking or eating too much red meat
- Prostate cancer affects more than 47,000 new men in the UK every year
Drinking one glass of red wine a day slashes men’s risk of prostate cancer by around 12 per cent, new research suggests.
Yet, moderate consumption of white wine, such as Chardonnay, raises the risk of the disease by 26 per cent, a study found.
Red wine contains around 10 times more polyphenols, a type of antioxidant, than white, which may explain the findings, according to the researchers.
Lead author Professor Shahrokh Shariat, from the University of Vienna, said: ‘It has already been shown that polyphenols, which are predominantly found in red wine, can have a protective effect in other diseases and other types of cancer.’
Prostate cancer affects more than 47,000 new men in the UK every year.
One glass of red wine a day slashes men’s risk of prostate cancer by around 12 per cent (stock)
IS WINE GOOD FOR ORAL HEALTH?
Drinking wine may protect teeth by destroying bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease, research suggested in February 2018.
Despite many dentists warning booze’s acidic content can damage teeth, a study suggests antioxidants in wine significantly prevent bacteria that cause plaque, cavities and periodontal disease from sticking to gums.
When these bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can trigger a chain reaction that has been linked to heart disease and cancer.
The latest discovery may lead to the development of ‘wine-inspired’ toothpastes and mouthwashes that contain such antioxidants, according to the researchers from the Spanish National Research Council in Madrid.
Gum disease affects around three in every four adults in the UK, with symptoms including sore, bleeding gums during brushing.
Study author Dr Victoria Moreno-Arribas said: ‘Oral cells normally constitute a physical barrier that prevents infections.
‘But bacterial adhesion to host tissues constitutes a key step in the infectious process.’
Results further suggest antioxidants in red wine are more effective than commercially-available grape-seed and red-wine extracts at preventing plaque-causing bacteria from sticking to lab-grown cells in modeled gum tissue.
When digested in the mouth, these antioxidants are thought to produce molecules that may benefit oral health.
Combining the antioxidants with the oral probiotic Streptococcus dentisani further boosts dental health.
Antioxidants in red wine may prevent prostate cancer
Professor Shariat adds men should not be concerned over their moderate white-wine consumption providing they avoid other prostate-cancer risk factors, such as smoking and an excessive red-meat intake.
He believes the antioxidants in red wine may one day be used to help prevent prostate cancer.
The European Food Authority has previously stated that polyphenol-rich olive oil prevents blood cells clotting and reduces people’s risk of diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity.
How the research was carried out
The researchers analysed 18 studies that investigated the effect of drinking wine of any colour on men’s prostate-cancer risk.
Overall, the study review included around 611,000 patients.
One glass of wine a day was defined as moderate consumption.
The findings were published in the journal Clinical Epidemiology.
Just two glasses of wine reduces sleep quality by nearly 40%
This comes after research released earlier this month suggested just two glasses of wine reduces people’s quality of sleep by nearly 40 per cent.
Heavy alcohol consumption, which these researchers defined as two drinks a night in women and three in men, reduces people’s quality of shut eye by 39.2 per cent, a study found.
Previous research suggests alcohol causes people to spend less time in deep, restful sleep and more time in the rapid eye movement stage, which is when dreams occur.
Results imply young people suffer the effects of alcohol more than their older counterparts.
Study co-author Professor Tero Myllymäki, from the Tampere University of Technology, Finland, said: ‘When you’re physically active, or younger, it’s easy, natural even, to feel like you’re invincible.
‘However, the evidence shows that despite being young and active you’re still susceptible to the negative effects of alcohol on recovery when you are asleep.’
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