There have been many studies in the recent years that have suggested coffee may protect against type 2 diabetes, reduce overall deaths, and even protect against dementia. But a new study released in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has shown that patients with colon cancer who drank caffeinated coffee heavily had a much higher survival rate — and were even less likely to have their cancer return after treatment — than those who didn’t drink coffee at all.
The study
The study surveyed 950 patients who had stage III colon cancer. Researchers had the patients complete a nutritional questionnaire while they were undergoing postsurgical chemotherapy treatment from 1999 to 2001.
They were asked to answer questions about their food intake and lifestyle, first during chemotherapy and again six months later. The patients answered questions about their intake of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee, herbal and non-herbal tea, caffeinated soft drinks and chocolate.
The discovery
The study made an interesting discovery, finding that patients who drank four cups of caffeinated coffee or more a day had half the rate of recurrence or death than non-coffee drinkers.
The patients who consumed four or more cups of caffeinated coffee per day were 52 percent less likely to have a recurrence of cancer and more likely to survive than those who didn’t drink coffee.
This new research contributes to the multitude of evidence that diet and lifestyle choices can have a significant effect on reducing the risk for developing colon cancer. Though this information is great news, more research needs to be done before advising patients to drink coffee to reduce their risk of cancer.
For questions about colon cancer, or to schedule your next colonoscopy, call the gastroenterologists at Hunterdon Gastroenterology Associates today at (908) 818-0129 to schedule an appointment.
