Need a good reason to drink beer?

[Omaha Red Sox]

Posted on Mon, Jun. 12, 2006

Beer ingredient may fight prostate cancer

Associated Press

CORVALLIS, Ore. - A main ingredient in beer may help prevent prostate cancer and enlargement, according to a new study. But researchers say don't rush out to stock the refrigerator because the ingredient is present in such small amounts that a person would have to drink more than 17 beers to benefit.

Oregon State University researchers say the compound xanthohumol, found in hops, inhibits a specific protein in the cells along the surface of the prostate gland.

The protein acts like a signal switch that turns on a variety of animal and human cancers, including prostate cancer.

Cancer typically results from uncontrolled cell reproduction and growth. Xanthohumol belongs to a group of plant compounds called flavonoids, which can trigger the programmed cell death that controls growth, researchers say.

Xanthohumol was first discovered in hops in 1913, but its health effects were not known until about 10 years ago, when it was first studied by Fred Stevens, assistant professor of medicinal chemistry at OSU's College of Pharmacy.

Last fall, Stevens published an update on xanthohumol in the journal Phytochemistry that drew international attention.

Stevens says it possible for drug companies to develop pills containing concentrated doses of the flavonoid found in the hops used to brew beer.

He also says researchers could work to increase the xanthohumol content of hops.

There are already a number of food supplements on the market containing hops, and scientists in Germany have developed a beer that contains 10 times the amount of xanthohumol as traditional brews. The drink is being marketed as a healthy beer, but research is still under way to determine if it has any effect against cancer.

The latest Oregon State University research was published in a recent issue of Cancer Letters.

[acsguitar]

17 beers sweet I can do that

[Omaha Red Sox]

17 beers sweet I can do that

Do it for your health, acs, do it for your health.

[ThatDude]

17 beers every 4-6 hours, or as needed.

That's a prescription I can live with.

[PlayingWithFire]

we don't need no reasons

[The Artful Dodger]

You hear that, liver? A morning run to the pub to watch a soccer match and downing a few pints of Guinness won't hurt me, but make me indestructible.

[Art Vandelay]

I've already got a couple of good reasons: it gets me drunk and it tastes good...but I suppose it never hurts to have another.

[Trot Nixon]

You hear that, liver? A morning run to the pub to watch a soccer match and downing a few pints of Guinness won't hurt me, but make me indestructible.

You tell that liver of yours!

[Madison]

17 beers every 4-6 hours, or as needed.

That's a prescription I can live with.

You'd be living in the bathroom unless you've got a bladder the size of a dinosaur.

[ThatDude]

17 beers every 4-6 hours, or as needed.

That's a prescription I can live with.

You'd be living in the bathroom unless you've got a bladder the size of a dinosaur.

I'm a manly man. I don't need a bathroom, I'll dispose of what needs to be disposed of where I see fit.