Whiskey Prevents Cancer?

Drinking malt whisky may help prevent cancer, a scientific conference has been told. The medicinal properties of antioxidants in red wine are well known, but delegates at a biochemistry conference were told that whisky offered "even greater health benefits".

Dr Jim Swan said: "There has been much in the news about the health benefits of antioxidants in red wine. By contrast, very little has been said about malt whisky distillery science. "However, research has shown that there are even greater health benefits to people who drink single malt whiskies. Why? Single malt whiskies have more ellagic acid than red wine."

However, Dr Lesley Walker of Cancer Research UK, pointed out "Ellagic acid is a powerful antioxidant but there is an abundance of this acid in soft fruits and she suggests this as a much healthier way of increasing antioxidant intake." She was very concerned that whisky was being promoted as a cancer prevention agent without data to support the claim. "On the contrary, there is considerable data documenting the link between drinking excess alcohol and the increased risk of a number of cancers, particularly in smokers," she said.