The Register

Original URL:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/20/beer_fights_cancer/

Beer fights cancer: official

By Lester Haines (lester.haines at theregister.co.uk)

Scientists at Okayama University in Japan have rather agreeably
discovered that unidentified compounds in lager and stout may help to
prevent DNA damage leading to cancer.

Some cancers are apparently provoked by heterocyclic amines -
"DNA-damaging chemicals found in cooked meat and fish", New Scientist
reports (http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6895). The
university team fed mice these compounds, and then noted that "the DNA
damage to their liver, lungs and kidneys was reduced by up to 85 per
cent if the mice drank non-alcoholic beer instead of water".
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Lead boffin Sakae Arimoto-Kobayashi reckons the beer-borne chemicals
"prevent the amines binding to and damaging DNA". Naturally, if they
can pinpoint the beneficial compounds in question, brewers will be able
to concoct cancer-battling superbrews.

But before we all rush off to the pub for a lifesaving pint, some
unanswered questions remain. New Scientist notes that heavy boozing is
responsible for around six per cent of cancers in the West. Since the
mice were refreshed with non-alcoholic beer, the scientists cannot
confirm that "moderate consumption of normal beer has any anti-cancer
benefits".

Arimoto-Kobayashi notes: "The total benefits and risks of beer with
alcohol are still under consideration."

Fair enough. When you've worked it out, give us a shout - we'll be in
the Rose and Crown doing a bit of field research. ®