A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology shows that regular consumption of caffeinated coffee may help prevent the return of colon cancer after treatment and improve the chances of a cure.
The study included nearly 1,000 patients who were all treated with surgery and chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer. They filled out dietary pattern questionnaires early in the study, during chemotherapy and again about a year later. The researchers found that the patients had the greatest benefit from consuming four or more cups of coffee a day (about 460 mg of caffeine). These patients were 42% less likely to have their cancer return than non-coffee drinkers, and were 33% less likely to die from cancer or any other cause. Two to three cups of coffee daily had a more modest benefit, while little protection was associated with one cup or less.
In analyzing the results of the study, the researchers discovered that the lowered risk of cancer recurrence and deaths was entirely due to caffeine and not other components of coffee. One hypothesis as to why caffeine has this effect is that caffeine consumption increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin so less of it is needed, which in turn may help reduce inflammation—a risk factor for diabetes and cancer.
The researchers note that the study is the first to explore an association between caffeinated coffee and risk of colon cancer recurrence and so further studies are needed.
