Green Tea May Reduce Men’s Cancer Risk

Green tea (Camelia sinensis) is an abundant source of antioxidants – notably, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Previous studies have suggested that supplements of green tea extract may confer a variety of cardiovascular and cancer protective effects. Nagi B. Kumar, from the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute (Florida, United States), and colleagues enrolled 97 men who had premalignant prostate lesions or high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia.  Tracking for changes in  high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) and/or atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP), study participants were randomly assigned to receive either a supplement containing green tea extract (400 mg EGCG), or placebo, for one year. The researchers observed that the man who receive the green tea supplement experienced reduced combined rates of HGPIN/ASAP, as well as decreased levels of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA). The study authors report that: " Daily intake of a standardized, decaffeinated catechin mixture containing 400 mg EGCG per day for 1 year accumulated in plasma and was well tolerated but did not reduce the likelihood of PCa in men with baseline [high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia] or [atypical small acinar proliferation].”