Resveratrol could help prevent breast cancer

Early laboratory research has shown that resveratrol, a common dietary supplement, suppresses the abnormal cell formation that leads to most types of breast cancer, suggesting a potential role for the agent in prevention.

Published in the July issue of Cancer Prevention Research, the study involved measuring the effect of resveratrol on cellular functions known to contribute to breast cancer. Many of these are fueled by increased estrogen, which collects and reacts with DNA molecules to form adducts. The team led by Eleanor Rogan found that resveratrol was able to suppress the formation of DNA adducts.

"This is dramatic because it was able to be done with fairly low concentrations of resveratrol to stop the formation of these DNA adducts in the cells we studied," said Dr Rogan. Although researchers experimented with up to 100micromol/L of resveratrol, the suppression of DNA adducts was seen with 10micromol/L. A glass of red wine contains between 9micromol/L and 28micromol/L of resveratrol, a natural substance found in red wine and red grapes. It is sold in extract form as a dietary supplement at most major drug stores.