Private MD News

Coffee shown to lower prostate cancer risk

Category: Prostate

Men who consume high levels of daily coffee may be less likely to receive a PSA test indicating that they have a lethal form of prostate cancer, according to a new study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

After examining data collected from 47,911 men, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health found that individuals who consumed six or more cups per day were 18 percent less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, compared to those who drank no coffee.

However, when the investigators looked at just deadly cases of the disease, coffee drinkers were at a 60 percent lower risk.

The researchers said that coffee has high levels of several bioactive chemicals, including caffeine and a variety of antioxidants. This may account for the lower risk of cancer observed in men who drank the highest levels of the brew.

Most men are unlikely to drink six cups of coffee each day, but the researchers said that their findings do show that there may be benefits to more moderate consumption as well.