Share

New evidence finds no association between coffee consumption and risk of colorectal cancer

Coffee consumption and risk of colorectal cancer in a population based prospective cohort of Swedish women 2001; 49:87-90

Click below to download PDF document
You will require Acrobat Reader to view file.
Click here for PDF document

There is no association between coffee consumption and risk of colorectal cancer, finds new evidence in Gut, despite previous studies suggesting a protective effect of coffee consumption. This presumption may be premature, report the authors.

Paul Terry and colleagues examined data from over 61, 000 Swedish women aged 40-74 years - the largest number of cases than any previous study of coffee consumption and colorectal cancer. All women were free from cancer at the start of the analysis, with a wide range of coffee consumption. Details of many other dietary factors were also taken into account.

During an average of 9.6 years of follow up, the team found no association between coffee consumption and colorectal cancer risk. Regular consumers of four or more cups of coffee per day showed no decreased risk of colorectal cancer compared with those who never or rarely drank coffee. In further analysis, they found no evidence that the association with coffee consumption varied with age, body mass index, or various other dietary factors.

Increasingly, the public is aware of the potential role of dietary factors, such as coffee, in disease processes, say the authors. They conclude: For patients seeking advice about coffee consumption, the evidence suggests that moderate or even high consumption will not likely influence the risk of colorectal cancer.

Contact:

Professor Alicja Wolk, Department of Medical Epidemiology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Tel: 46-8-728-6170
alicja.wolk@mep.ki.se

Share

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.