Does Green Tea Lower Risk for Gastric Cancer?

Green tea contains antioxidants that are thought to reduce risk for various cancers. To evaluate the effect of green tea consumption on the risk for gastric cancer, investigators in Japan pooled data from six cohort studies that measured green tea consumption using a validated questionnaire and identified subsequent incidence of gastric cancer using population-based cancer registries and case reporting from participating institutions. Tea drinking was stratified according to the number of cups consumed per day (<1, 1–2, 3–4, ≥5).

In a pooled population of 219,080, a total of 3577 cases of gastric cancer were found during follow-up (duration, 7.6–11.5 years). In men, no association was found between amount of tea consumed and incidence of gas…