AICR: EGCG Fights Cancer

AICR: EGCG Fights Cancer

WASHINGTON--Speaking at an internationalconference on diet and cancer, researchers funded by the American Institute forCancer Research (AICR) presented evidence that epigallocatchetin-3 gallate(EGCG), an active component in green tea, may short-circuit the cancer processbetter than cancer drugs.

"We have determined that a unique quirk of biochemistry allows greentea's protective effects to extend to many different kinds of cells," saidThomas A. Gasiewicz, professor of environmental medicine at the University ofRochester Medical Center. "[EGCG] seems to target one protein that isparticularly common throughout our bodies, and it does so with a precision thatcancer drugs still aren't able to match."

According to AICR, a survey showed only 15 percent of American say they drinkgreen tea on a typical day, making it the least popular non-alcoholic beveragein the United States in the survey. "Clearly, Americans are not takingadvantage of the health benefits green tea may offer," said Jeffrey Prince,AICR vice president for education. "We think that people concerned aboutlowering cancer risk should consider adding green tea as another potentiallyprotective food to a diet rich in plant foods and low in fat and salt."