Female breast cancer patients may greatly reduce their risk of skin problems related to radiation therapy by drinking a daily glass of red wine, further enhancing the reputation of its natural antioxidant properties, according to a new study.
Italian researchers measured the beneficial effects of natural antioxidants found in red wine on some 350 breast cancer patients in hopes of finding a cheaper, safer alternative to expensive treatments with harmful side effects that may protect tumor cells along with healthy ones.
Patients who consumed a glass of wine every day experienced a significantly reduced incidence of Grade 2 or higher acute skin toxicity (13.6 percent), compared to those who drank no wine at all (38.4 percent).
Interestingly, drinking too little or too much wine affects skin toxicity as well (by as much as 35 percent for those who consume two glasses a day and nearly 32 percent for patients drinking just half a glass).
International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, Vol. 74, No. 5, pp. 1501-1509, August 2009
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healthfinder.gov August 14, 2009
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