Higher coffee consumption is linked with a lower risk of endometrial cancer, according to a new analysis which appears in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research. In addition, there was evidence that caffeinated coffee may provide better protection than decaffeinated coffee.
Risk factors for endometrial cancer include long-term exposure to excess oestrogen, obesity, nulliparity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension, whereas protective factors include physical activity, aspirin intake, and certain dietary habits.
The analysis, which included 24 studies on coffee intake (12 case–control and 12 cohort studies), had 9833 new cases of endometrial cancer occurring in 699 234 individuals.
People in the highest category of coffee intake had a 29% lower relative risk of developing endometrial cancer than those in the lowest category. Additionally, women with a higher BMI or who smoked saw a greater benefit in risk reduction, though they still had a higher risk overall.
The authors of the analysis highlight several mechanisms that have been associated with the potential anti-cancer effects of coffee:
“Coffee contains many bioactive components, such as phenolic compounds. These polyphenols can increase the homocysteine concentrations in the plasma and inhibit DNA methylation in a dose-dependent manner, which prevents the downregulation of tumour suppressor proteins and DNA repair enzymes involved in carcinogenesis.”
They conclude that more studies with larger sample sizes are needed to better understand the effects of subgroups such as smoking status, as well as the benefits of coffee consumption in relation to endometrial cancer.
Source: Wiley
