Drinking Coffee May Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk

Boston (DbTechNo) - Those men out there who love coffee will be happy to know that drinking it on a regular basis appears to reduce risk of prostate cancer.

This interesting study was performed by researchers from Harvard Medical School.

For their study the researchers documented the coffee drinking habits of up to 50,000 men between the years of 1986 to 2006.

Those who drank the most coffee, were up to 60% less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than men who did not drink coffee at all.

According to the researchers, coffee contains ingredients that both break down sugar and boosts sex hormones, both of which play a role in prostate cancer risk.

“Coffee has effects on insulin and glucose metabolism as well as sex hormone levels, all of which play a role in prostate cancer,” said Kathryn M. Wilson, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Channing Laboratory in Boston.

Researchers also stated that there did not appear to be any change in effectiveness depending on whether a man drank regular or decaffeinated brew.

“Very few lifestyle factors have been consistently associated with prostate cancer risk, especially with risk of aggressive disease, so it would be exciting if this association is confirmed in other studies,” Dr. Wilson said. “While it is too early to recommend increasing coffee intake based on this study alone, our results do suggest there is no reason to stop drinking coffee out of any concern about prostate cancer.”