Glass of red wine ‘can fight cancer’

SCIENTISTS have identifed another potential health benefit of drinking red wine in moderate amounts.

Previous research has pinpointed a ‘miracle ingredient’ in red wine called resveratrol that can prevent the spread of bowel cancer – but experts have now found that just one large glass contains enough resveratrol to have ‘amazing’ effects.

In fact, the tiny amount in a single drink is even more powerful than much higher doses found in supplements in health food shops.

Resveratrol, which gives red grapes their colour, is also credited with staving off heart disease and keeping the mind sharp.

Animal studies have hinted that it can extend life, but human trials have had mixed results. So, to find out why, Karen Brown from Leicester University studied its ability to limit bowel cancer in mice genetically reared to develop the disease.

She found a low dose was twice as good at stopping tumours from growing as one 200 times higher.

Writing in the journal Science Translational Medicine, Professor Brown said the compound only cut the number and size of tumours when the mice ate fatty food.

She added: ‘For the first time, we’re seeing that less resveratrol is more. Low amounts may be better at preventing tumours than a high dose.’

But Dr Julie Sharp, of Cancer Research UK, said people should not self-medicate with wine, which carried its own dangers, adding: ‘The increase in cancer risk linked to alcohol outweighs any possible benefits of resveratrol.’