Cancer experts say drinking red wine may decrease the risk of lung cancer in men who smoke, because of its antioxidant properties. Chun Chao and colleagues in California, analysed data collected through the California Men's Health Study, which linked clinical data from California's health system with self-reported data from 84 170 men aged 45 to 69 years.
The researchers measured the effect of beer, red wine, white wine and liquor consumption on the risk of lung cancer, after adjustments were made for age, race/ethnicity, education, income, body mass index, history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema, and smoking history and the link was not seen with the consumption of white wine, beer, or liquor.
Among the study participants, there was on average a 2% lower lung cancer risk associated with each glass of red wine consumed per month and the most substantial risk reduction was amongst smokers who drank one to two glasses of red wine per day. This amounted to a 60% reduction in the risk of lung cancer.
But red wine is no panacea - stopping smoking is still the best way to reduce the risk of lung cancer and even smokers who drink red wine still have a higher risk of lung cancer than people who do not smoke at all.
