4. What are results of human studies?

Although tea has long been identified as an antioxidant in laboratory, study results involving humans have been contradictory. Some epidemiological studies comparing tea drinkers to non-tea drinkers support claim that drinking tea prevents cancer; others do not. Dietary, environmental, and population differences may account for these inconsistencies.

Two studies in China, where green tea is a mainstay of diet, resulted in promising findings. One study involving over 18,000 men found tea drinkers were about half as likely to develop stomach or esophageal cancer as men who drank little tea, even after adjusting for smoking and other health and diet factors (3). A second study at Beijing Dental Hospital found consuming 3 grams of tea a day, or about 2 cups, along with application of a tea extract reduced size and proliferation of leukoplakia, a precancerous oral plaque (1).

5. Is NCI evaluating tea?

National Cancer Institute (NCI) researchers are also investigating therapeutic use of green tea. One recently completed but unpublished NCI trial studied antitumor effect of green tea among prostate cancer patients. The 42 patients drank 6 grams of green tea, or about 4 cups, daily for four months. However, only one patient experienced a short-lived improvement, and nearly 70 percent of group experienced unpleasant side effects such as nausea and diarrhea. The study concluded drinking green tea has limited antitumor benefit for prostate cancer patients (5).

Other ongoing NCI studies are testing green tea as a preventive agent against skin cancer. For example, one is investigating protective effects of a pill form of green tea against sun-induced skin damage while another explores topical application of green tea in shrinking precancerous skin changes.

Visit pcshealth.com for more articles and research on green tea.

And fda says it is alright that 2 children have suffered strokes and 14 children have died from using this drug.

Canada cares about health of its children and does not want any deaths to happen in their country.

However, fda has a very different view.

This is fda statement posted on their website last week:

The fda says it “does not feel that any immediate changes are warranted in fda labeling or approved use of this drug based upon its preliminary understanding of Health Canada’s analysis of adverse event reports and fda’s own knowledge of reports received by agency.”

When will fda care about America’s children?

When will fda care about people of America?

Let’s review fda mission statement one more time.

“The fda is responsible for protecting public health by assuring safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products …, our Nations food supply …”

“The fda is also responsible for … helping public get accurate, science based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.”

I’m not sure when you’ll be asking yourself, “Is fda really looking out for my health?”

Sources: Associated Press “Canada orders drug for adhd off market”, February 14th, 2005.

Nutritional Health Alliance, Washington Update, February, 2005.