Ladies, a heavy coffee habit might do more than perk
up. New research suggests it may also reduce risk of
endometrial cancer. Using data on more than 456,000
women from two large ongoing studies, researchers
evaluated the dietary habits of more than 2,800
women diagnosed with cancer of the endometrium.
Compared to women who drank less than a cup a day,
those who drank about four cups daily had an 18
percent lower risk of getting this cancer, they
found. "We were not surprised by the results that a
high versus low intake of coffee was associated with
a reduced risk for endometrial cancer, because they
were consistent with what has been observed in
previous studies,"study leader said. "We used
similar methods to investigate the association
between coffee intake and endometrial cancer as
previous studies," she said. "This is important so
we can compare results across different studies."
One trial concluded 37 ounces of coffee daily
reduced endometrial cancer risk by 18 percent. The
other found a similar reduction associated with 26
ounces a day. Research team evaluated 84 foods and
nutrients. "For most other dietary factors, there
was no consistent association with endometrial
cancer risk," she said. The researchers found a
link, but not a cause-and-effect relationship,
between coffee drinking and lower risk of
endometrial cancer. And the study did not
differentiate between decaf or regular, so
researchers said they can't comment on whether one
is better than the other. The researchers also can't
say for sure why coffee may lower the cancer risk.
However, one possibility is that coffee reduces
estrogen levels in the body, changing the balance of
hormones, she added. If the balance between estrogen
and progesterone shifts and leans more toward
estrogen, the risk of endometrial cancer rises,
according to the American Cancer Society. Other risk
factors for endometrial cancer include being
overweight and having an early start to periods
(before age 12) and a late menopause. About 55,000
new cases of endometrial cancer are expected this
year in the United States, the cancer society
estimates, and about 10,000 women will die from it.
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