Red Wine Boosts Breast Cancer Defense

LOS ANGELESHealthy premenopausal women who drink red wine in moderation have a reduced risk of breast cancer, according to a study published in the Journal of Womens Health. The findings suggest red wine may provide a natural defense against the leading cancer in U.S. women.

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center conducted a cross-over study to determine whether red wine mimics the effects of aromatase inhibitors that play a key role in managing estrogen levels. For the study, 36 middle-aged women were assigned to 8 ounces of red wine daily then white wine for one month each, or the reverse. Blood was collected twice during the menstrual cycle for measurement of estradiol, estrone, and rostenedione, total and free testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone.

Red wine demonstrated higher free testosterone versus white wine, and lower p=0.009) and lower sex hormone binding globulin. Estradiol levels were lower in red versus white wine but not statistically significant. Luteinizing hormone was significantly higher in red versus white wine; however, follicle stimulating hormone was not.

The researchers concluded red wine is associated with significantly higher free testosterone and lower sex hormone binding globulin levels, as well as a significant higher luteinizing hormone level versus white wine in healthy premenopausal women.