A U.S. study suggests drinking coffee may increase the likelihood for a man to contract prostate cancer.The found a link between coffee consumption and risk of prostate cancer.
The study found non-coffee drinkers were at 19% lower risk for prostate cancer, compared to men who drank 0 to 1 cup per day. And also male smokers who drank 4 plus cups of coffee per day had their risk for prostate cancer increased by 16%, compared to those who did no drink any.
The study led by Shakira Nelson of Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics National Cancer Institute in Rockville, Maryland, United States and colleagues was based on data from the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention (ATBC) Study in which 50-69 year old male smokers in southwest Finland were enrolled between 1985 and 1988 with all having been followed up for nearly 30 years.
Coffee consumption was assessed at the beginning of the study using a food frequency questionnaire.Participants were followed up until diagnosis of prostate cancer, death or the end of the follow-up.
Recently, another study has associated coffee drinking with increased risk of lung cancer.
Coffee drinking seems to protect against liver disease, according to previous studies. Coffee is known to contain both antioxidants and mutagens and its benefits like many other foods remain to a degree uncertain. (David Liu)
