New research suggests that drinking three cups of tea a day might have beneficial effects on breast cancer risk, in particular among young women.
The researchers interviewed women who had developed breast cancer and women who had no history of breast cancer about their tea consumption. The authors of the study revealed that those women who reported drinking three or more cups of tea per day five years prior to the interview had a 37 per cent reduced breast cancer risk when compared with women reporting no tea consumption. The research was conducted by a team led by Dr Nagi Kumar at the Moffitt Cancer Centre in Tampa, Florida and supported by the Lipton Institute of Tea.
Liz Finlay, marketing manager, Lyons Tea, commented, “Almost nine out of 10 Irish women drink tea with the average Irish person drinking around four cups a day, so this emerging research is relevant to Irish people. It’s positive to see that simply by enjoying our regular favourite cuppa we may be having a beneficial effect on our risk of breast cancer, and it will be interesting to see further research in this area.”
The study examined the association of regular tea consumption with the risk of breast cancer in a large, population-based case-control study, across three study sites in the US, and suggests an inverse association between tea consumption and breast cancer risk in younger women (defined as those aged under 50 ). When examined according to breast cancer subtype, defined by breast cancer stage and histology, the inverse relationship noted among young women was consistent. All results were essentially unchanged after adjustment for established risk factors and no significant relationships according to tea consumption were observed in older women, regardless of breast cancer subtype.
Dr Paul Quinlan, research director at the Lipton Institute of Tea, added: “In recent years, a growing volume of scientific research has pointed to there being significant mental and physical health benefits to be gained from regular tea consumption. We are delighted to have helped fund this study and helped further our understanding of the role of tea in physical wellbeing.”
More than 1,700 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in Ireland each year and Irish women have a one in 12 chance of developing breast cancer in their lifetime. The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age and approximately 80 per cent of breast cancers occur in women over 50 years.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and the National Breast Cancer Helpline can be reached on 1800 30 90 40.
