Beers to your health

Filed in archive News on November 15, 2005

This article is by Theresa Dixon, a Creative Reporter.

Scientists at the Linus Pauling Institute have discovered a new compound, called flavonoids. This compound neutralizes "free radicals", rogue oxygen molecules that can damage cells.

A specific flavonoid, xanthohumol is found only in hops. Researchers speculate that it may prevent some forms of cancer.

Common, domestic American beer has fewer flavonoids than porter, stout, and ale brews, but no beer contains enough flavonoids to have a significant effect.

Xanthohumol is a yellow substance in hops that was first discovered in in 1913, but its health effects weren't discovered until the 1990s. Xanthohumol was used in cell cultures and animal studies, where it targeted various types of cancer. The research, done by Dr. Stephens of the Linus Pauling Institute, was reviewed by the journal Phytochemistry last year.

Stephens hopes that concentrated amounts of flavonoids can be produced in pill form in the future.

Information from: Gazette-Times