Wine May Slow Cancer Growth, French Lab Says

Wine May Slow Cancer Growth, French Lab Says

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France (January 19, 1999 11:56 a.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com) - Yet another study suggests wine in moderation can be good for your health. A French study published here showed that polyphenols, micronutrients abundant in wine, curbed the proliferation of cancerous cells grown in a petri dish.

Professor Jean-Francois Rossi presented the results of the year-long study -- headed by Bernard Klein at Montpellier University Hospital -- during the general assembly of the Mediterranean wine, food and health institute here Monday.

Rossi's team studied the effect of tannin polyphenols -- coming from grape skin and oak wine tubs -- on spinal cord cancer cell colonies, an example of a "solid" tumor.

"We found on the one hand that the polyphenols decreased the proliferation of cancerous cells," Rossi said.

"And on the other, that they had the effect of inducing apoptosis -- meaning they facilitate the suicide of the cancer cells."