According to a recent study, consuming two to four cups of coffee daily is associated with a significantly reduced risk of colon cancer recurrence. Apparently the popular hot drink has a significant protective effect and the risk of premature death also decreases.
A research team led by Prof. Dr. Ellen Kampman from Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands examined the connection between coffee consumption and cancer recurrences and all-cause mortality in people with colorectal cancer. The results are published in the “International Journal of Cancer”.
How does coffee work on colon cancer?
Previous research has suggested that coffee inhibits colon cancer growth. In the new study, the researchers used data from 1,719 people with colorectal cancer to examine the extent to which coffee consumption influences the progression of colon cancer.
Coffee consumption and other lifestyle characteristics were self-reported at the time of diagnosis using questionnaires, while recurrence and all-cause mortality data came from the Dutch Cancer Registry and Personal Records Database, respectively, the researchers report.
A total of 257 recurrences occurred during a mean follow-up period of 6.2 years and 309 deaths occurred during a mean follow-up period of 6.6 years.
Clear positive effects
Further data analysis showed that consuming more than four cups of coffee per day was associated with a 32 percent lower risk of colon cancer recurrence compared to consuming less than two cups per day.
Overall mortality was also positively influenced by coffee consumption. However, this effect was non-linear and the optimal intake was three to five cups per day, reports the research team. With higher consumption, overall mortality increased again.
Overall, the results suggest that daily coffee consumption may be associated with a lower risk of recurrence of colorectal cancer and a lower risk of early death.
The researchers hope that the new findings could potentially be incorporated into future intervention studies and nutritional guidelines for patients with colorectal cancer. Further studies now aim to determine the underlying mechanisms through which coffee counteracts colon cancer. (fp)
