Tea May Reduce Uterine Cancer

SHANGHAI, ChinaTea consumption may reduce the risk of uterine cancer, according to a meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (2009 Dec;201(6):605.e1-8). However, the researchers noted due to the limited number of studies, further prospective studies are needed to explore the protective effect of tea on endometrial cancer, which starts in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus.

Researchers searched PubMed and EMBASE databases and screened the references of retrieved articles. The seven studies they found showed an increase in tea intake of 2 cups a day of tea (green or black) was associated with a 25-percent decreased risk of endometrial cancer. In subgroup analyses, tea consumption was significantly associated with reduced endometrial cancer risk in Asian studies and studies using interviewing techniques. Furthermore, the protective effect of green tea on endometrial cancer seemed more evident than that of black tea.