Men who drink a lot of tea are more likely to develop prostate cancer , according to researchers at the University of Glasgow.
According to a study, consuming seven or more glasses a day has a 50% higher risk of the disease than men who drink three or less.
Researchers have been monitoring the health of more than 6,016 men between the ages of 21 and 75 for four decades.
The results of the present study contradict previous research showing that drinking tea reduces the risk of cancer, as well as heart disease , diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
Volunteers fill out a questionnaire about their general health, tea, coffee and alcohol consumption, smoking, and are screened.
Just under 1/4 of all participants consume seven or more cups of tea a day. Of these, 6.4% developed prostate cancer over the next 37 years.
Researchers have found that men who drink the most tea are more likely to follow a healthy lifestyle associated with moderate alcohol consumption, not to be overweight and have problems with high cholesterol.
However , the increased risk of prostate cancer in these men remains, says the research team.
According to scientists, the ingredients of black tea may be responsible for the carcinogenic activity of prostate cells.
The results are published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer .