How an extra coffee ‘could lower prostate cancer risk’

DRINKING more coffee could lower men’s risk of developing prostate cancer, scientists have found.

Every additional daily cup is associated with a 1 per cent lower risk of the disease, research suggests.

Prostate is the second most common cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer death in men. The latest research was based on 16 international studies, involving more than one million men, of whom 57,732 developed prostate cancer.

The studies compared the risk of prostate cancer associated with coffee consumption. The highest level of consumption ranged from two to nine or more cups a day, while the lowest was from none to fewer than two cups a day.

Compared with the lowest category of coffee consumption, the highest category was associated with a 9 per cent reduction in prostate cancer risk. And each additional daily cup was associated with a reduction in risk of 1 per cent. The authors, from the Shenjing Hospital of China Medical University, say their findings could be down to the fact that coffee improves glucose metabolism, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and affects sex hormones – all of which may influence the onset of prostate cancer.

The analysis, published in the journal BMJ Open, said if the risk reduction benefits are proved through further research, ‘men might be encouraged to increase their coffee consumption’.

Researchers warned some caution should be taken when interpreting their findings as the type of coffee and brewing methods varied among the studies. The amount of coffee consumed was also based on recall, rather than being measured in a controlled environment.