Drinking green tea is highly unlikely to help prevent breast, prostate or any other type of cancer, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a statement published on its website last Thursday.

A number of studies in recent years have revealed that compounds in green tea slow growth of cancer cells in the lab, while epidemiological studies have shown an association between green tea drinking and lower risk of breast and prostate cancer.

Much of the science on green tea has focused on its potential to help prevent cancer, but last week the FDA said there was little science to support this link.

"Two studies do not show that drinking green tea reduces the risk of breast cancer in women, but one weaker, more limited study suggests that drinking green tea may reduce this risk," said the statement.

"Based on these studies, FDA concludes that it is highly unlikely that green tea reduces the risk of breast cancer."

Likewise, only one "weak and limited" study shows that drinking green tea can reduce the risk of prostate cancer, the FDA said, and existing evidence does not support qualified health claims for green tea consumption and a reduced risk of any other type of cancer.

(Xinhua News Agency/Agencies July 5, 2005)