Cancer-fighting beer developed in Germany VIENNA (Reuters Health) - It sounds too good to be true, but German scientists say they have developed a beer that could help fight cancer. The brew contains high levels of a potent antioxidant called xanthohumol, which is found in hops and has been shown in previous laboratory studies to stem the growth of tumour cells. The compound is found in very low concentrations in normal beer, so the German Cancer Research Institute in Heidelberg asked researchers at the Technical University of Munich to see if they could enrich the compound. Using a method they are keeping secret, the scientists brewed beer with 10 times the normal content of xanthohumol, but a calorie and alcohol content similar to that of standard beer, the university said in a statement on Wednesday. Achim Zuercher, a scientist involved in the study, told Reuters Health the content of xanthohumol in commercial beers is about 0.01 to 0.20 milligrams per litre (mg/L). In the new beer, the scientists achieved concentrations of about 1.0 to 2.5 mg/L. It will be marketed in January or February next year, by an as-yet-unnamed brewery in Bavaria, Zuercher said. He also expects it to be sold outside Germany. "Red wine has had a good image in terms of cancer since the discovery of resveratrol. Now we have xanthohumol for beer," he said. As yet, tests on the effects of xanthohumol have only been carried out the laboratory, he noted, but it has been shown in a variety of test systems to be a very promising and effective natural substance against cancer. "For example, it is much more effective than resveratrol," he noted. Still, the researcher stressed it would not be possible to say conclusively that the beer will fight cancer in humans until tests are completed several years down the line. "The Cancer Research Institute will now begin to test our beer on animals but it will take several years to establish whether the compound is really chemopreventative in people," he said. Thanks to Reuters Health, 11/02 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.