Lung cancer accounts for more death among both men and women than any other type of cancer. Investigators at the University of Maryland Medical Center estimate that more than 160,000 people die from lung cancer per year in the United States. Grape skins and red wine contain the natural antioxidant resveratrol, which may help destroy lung cancer cells. But this is far from definitive, so before using resveratrol supplements be sure to consult your doctor.
Apoptosis
Cancer research conducted at College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University examined the chemopreventive effects of the red wine polyphenol resveratrol on lung cancer cells in vivo. Resveratrol has been shown to inhibit lung cancer cell proliferation by down-regulating the expression of proteins that regulate the process of cell apoptosis. Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, protects normal cells and selectively kills cancer cells.
Red Wine and Lung Cancer
For lung cancer, each glass of red wine consumed daily reduces risk by 13 percent, according to a hospital-based, case-control Spanish study reported by the New Jersey Medical School. Investigators believe that red wine's protective effects against lung cancer come from the resveratrol it contains. Although this assessment is considered preliminary, more research is underway.
Protein NF-kappa B
Biochemists at the University of Virginia examined the relationship between resveratrol and NF-kB activation. Activation of the protein NF-kappa B, or NF-kB, contributes to the development of several types of human cancer, including lung cancer. Resveratrol has been shown to disrupt NF-kB activation and promote cell-death signaling, or apoptosis.
Safety Issues
Resveratrol can have estrogenlike effects in humans because of its structural similarity to estrogen. According to NYU Langone Medical Center, high estrogen levels can influence a woman's risk for breast cancer. Therefore, women who are at risk for breast cancer should consider limiting or avoiding resveratrol supplements.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Lung Cancer; Steven D. Ehrlich; June 2010
- Cornell University; College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Effect of Phytochemicals on Lung Cancer Cells; C.Y. Lee et al.; December 2008
- New Jersey Medical School; Healthful Life Project: Red Wine, White Wine, and Lung Cancer: Good News, Bad News -- and Not Very Clear; May 2005
- "Journal of the National Cancer Institute"; Resveratrol May Be a Powerful Cancer-Fighting Ally; James Schultz; October 2004
- NYU Langone Medical Center: Resveratrol
