A new study published in the International Journal of Cancer has concluded that the consumption of green tea by Asian-American women contributes to a reduced risk of breast cancer.

Dr. Anna H. Wu of the University of Southern California. Los Angeles and colleagues evaluated the consumption of green tea among 501 Asian-American women with breast cancer and compared it with that of 594 Asian-American women without the disease. After adjusting for menstrual, reproductive, dietary and other factors, they found the risk of breast cancer was significantly lower among women who drank green tea only (ratio of 0.57) and slightly lower among women who drank both green and black tea (ratio of 0.69). However, they found no association between the consumption of only black tea and breast cancer risk.

"Our study shows that green tea may act as a chemopreventive agent against breast cancer development," Wu wrote. She added that the protective effect remained significant even after adjusting for other risk factors such as smoking, alcohol intake, family history and physical activity.

SOURCE:
International Journal of Cancer, September 10, 2003