Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men, affecting up to 1 in 6 men in the United States. It is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men, next to lung cancer. Approximately more than 2 million Americans are currently living with prostate cancer, with more than 33,000 dying from the disease. It is most common in men over 65, and in men with a family history of the disease.
Fortunately, research has recently revealed that men can do something to decrease their risk for prostate cancer, and they don’t even have to pay a huge amount of money for it. The answer is in one of the most common beverages today – coffee.
What is Prostate Cancer?
The prostate gland is a walnut-sized organ which can be found at the base of the male urinary bladder. Its main function is in reproduction, as it produces some of the components of semen. As a man ages, the prostate usually grows in size due to hormonal changes.
Prostate cancer develops when a malignancy occurs in the cells of the prostate gland. This is due to a dysfunction in the cells’ ability to regulate cell multiplication and destroy defective cells. As a result, the cells multiply uncontrollably and develop into a tumor. In most cases, this development occurs slowly, causing the cancer to remain undetected in the prostate gland. Because of this, prostate cancer may not cause any signs and symptoms at all. However, as the cancer develops, it may begin to metastasize, or spread into other areas of the body. At this point of advanced prostate cancer, symptoms and physical changes may be observed. Some types of prostate cancer are also more aggressive and thus, more lethal.
The Role of Coffee in Prostate Cancer Risk Reduction
A 2011 study from Harvard University concluded that coffee consumption led to a significant reduction in prostate cancer risk, with
the reduction occurring regardless of whether the coffee is regular or decaffeinated.
The study followed about 50,000 men over the course of 20 years, from 1986 to 2006. The men were examined every four years throughout the duration of the study. It was found that those who drank at least six cups of coffee a day had a 60% less chance of developing lethal prostate cancer, and those who consumed smaller amounts of coffee, ranging from one to three cups a day, had a risk reduction of 30%.
Another notable fact is that the prostate cancer risk reduction does not seem to be associated with coffee drinkers having healthier or more active lifestyles. In fact, they were found to be the opposite, with coffee drinkers having less exercise or being more prone of smoking.
Researchers found that the anticancer activity was not attributed to caffeine, the most popular component of coffee, but rather, the several antioxidants naturally contained in coffee. The most notable of these is methylpridinium, an antioxidant which has been found in some studies to be possibly effective against colon cancer. These antioxidants are proposed to exert the anticancer activity by preventing oxidative damage and cell inflammation, as well as regulating hormone levels.
Although the scientists behind this study do not yet recommend non-coffee drinkers from changing their habits in an attempt to prevent prostate cancer, they have already made recommendations for follow-up studies to be conducted so that the relationship between coffee and cancer risk reduction can be more scientifically defined.