A study in women with breast cancer found that drinking red wine may help limit the toxic effects of radiotherapy.

“The possibility of certain dietary practices or interventions can reduce radiation-induced toxicity, which is very intriguing,” says Dr. Gabriella Macchia, Catholic University, Campobasso, Italy.

It is known that certain components of red wine can protect against the harmful effects of radiation and these components are in particular polyphenols and tannins.

In the current study, Macchia and colleagues assessed the potential effects of protection on different levels and consumption of red wine in 348 women treated with radiation therapy after breast cancer surgery and the results were “interesting,” said Macchia.

In the study, women who drank only one drink per day had a much lower risk of side effects of radiation on the skin.

In particular, their risk of significant toxicity was 75 percent less than in non-drinkers, the researchers said.

“If wine can prevent harmful effects of radiation, without affecting induced toxicity to the antitumor action, as we noted, also has the potential to increase therapeutic benefit in cancer patients without increasing their risk of serious adverse effects “said Macchia.

“The possible protective effect of wine, we have evaluated only in women with breast cancer should also be evaluated in male and female patients with other types of tumors (e.g. prostate cancer), who underwent radiotherapy, researchers concluded.