A man who drinks either caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee regularly has a significantly lower chance of developing a more aggressive from of prostate cancer, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health revealed in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. This study follows another one last week that linked regular coffee drinking with a lower risk of a particular type of breast cancer.

The aggressive (lethal) cancer referred to here is the one that spreads to the bones.

Senior author, Lorelei Mucci wrote:

“Few studies have specifically studied the association of coffee intake and the risk of lethal prostate cancer, the form of the disease that is the most critical to prevent. Our study is the largest to date to examine whether coffee could lower the risk of lethal prostate cancer.”

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed male cancer in the USA, and the country’s second biggest cancer killer, after lung cancer. 16 million males worldwide are cancer survivors; 2 million are American.

Lead author, Kathryn Wilson said:

“At present we lack an understanding of risk factors that can be changed or controlled to lower the risk of lethal prostate cancer. If our findings are validated, coffee could represent one modifiable factor that may lower the risk of developing the most harmful form of prostate cancer.”

Coffee contains several compounds which regulate insulin, reduce swelling (inflammation), and act as antioxidants – all considered beneficial regarding prostate cancer risk. Hence, the scientists chose to study it.

Apart from the breast cancer protecting qualities revealed last week, previous studies have also shown that coffee reduces the risk of developing diabetes type 2, gallstone disease, Parkinson’s disease, liver cancer, and cirrhosis of the liver.

The researchers set out to determine whether coffee might help protect against prostate cancer, especially its aggressive form. They gathered data on 47,911 American adult males from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. This database included coffee consumption habits from 1986 to 2008. 5,035 prostate cancer cases were reported during this period, of which 642 were aggressive (metastatic) or fatal cases.

The authors found that:

  • Adult males who drank at least six cups of coffee a day had an almost 20% lower chance of developing any type of prostate cancer.
  • Those drinking at least six cups of coffee a day had a 60% lower chance of developing the aggressive/lethal form of prostate cancer.
  • The risk reduction was seen equally among both drinkers of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee.
  • Moderate coffee drinkers (1 to 3 cups per day) had a 30% lower chance of developing lethal prostate cancer

The authors add that further validation studies in other populations are needed to confirm their findings. If confirmed, then prostate cancer protection should be added to the benefits of regular coffee drinking.

“Coffee Consumption and Prostate Cancer Risk and Progression in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study”
Kathryn M. Wilson, Julie L. Kasperzyk, Jennifer R. Stark, Stacey Kenfield, Rob M. van Dam, Meir J. Stampfer, Edward Giovannucci, Lorelei A. Mucci
Journal of the National Cancer Institute, online May 17, 2011. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djr151

Written by Christian Nordqvist