The Active Ingredient In Green Tea & Prostate Cancer

Green tea consumption has been associated with numerous health benefits, which researches believe are caused by a substance called epigallocatechin-3-gallate, or EGCG. Evidence is mounting for the use of green tea as a protective influence in preventing prostate cancer, but more research is needed.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting males. Nearly 200,000 American men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, according to a 2010 study published in the journal "Phytomedicine." Almost 30,000 of these men die from the disease yearly. Prostate cancer attacks a small walnut-shaped gland that creates seminal fluid. If their condition is detected before the cancer spreads, prostate cancer patients have a greater likelihood of survival.

Green Tea

Green tea is produced from Camellia sinensis, the same plant that produces black and oolong tea. The difference in these varieties results from the way the leaves are processed. Black tea leaves are fermented -- a process that involves rolling the leaves and causing the active ingredients in them to oxidize, thus nullifying their therapeutic effects. Oolong tea is partially fermented. Green tea is not fermented. Its leaves are merely withered and steamed; thus, its active ingredients are left intact.

Prostate Cancer Connection

The theory that green tea's active ingredients may help prevent prostate cancer evolved from observations that populations who drink large amounts of green tea tend to have lower rates of this particular disease. The American Cancer Society states that this epidemiological evidence is insufficient to support claims that green tea is capable of preventing any particular type of cancer and that controlled, randomized clinical trials are necessary to assess its effectiveness accurately.

Research

As of January 2010, several published clinical trials examined the link between green tea and prostate cancer. According to "Phytomedicine," the information gleaned from these studies indicates that green tea holds promise in the prevention of prostate cancer, but more studies are needed to confirm these results.

Considerations

Green tea has been consumed for thousands of years and is generally considered safe, but it does contain caffeine, which can cause problems for some people. The active ingredients in green tea may also make it more difficult for your body to absorb some medications, according to the American Cancer Society. If you are taking medication, consult your doctor before drinking green tea.