According to research conducted by the Keck Medicine Center at this university, daily consumption of more than 2.5 servings of coffee, whether regular or decaffeinated and regardless of the preparation method, reduces the risk of developing this type of cancer by up to 54 percent.
Similarly, moderate consumption of up to two cups a day of this beverage, which is the most consumed drink in the world after water, is associated with a 26 percent reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer.
“Although further studies would be necessary to conclude that coffee has preventive properties, this research allows us to infer that coffee may protect against the possible development of this type of cancer,” said Stephanie Schmit, principal investigator of this study.
Along those lines, Keck Medicine Center Director Stephen Gruber stressed that although “evidence suggests that this is the case, we need more research to be able to advocate for coffee consumption as a preventative measure” against this type of cancer.
The group of researchers was surprised by the finding that caffeine is not the “only element” in coffee with protective properties against this type of cancer, the third most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in men and women in the United States according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
“There are many hypotheses as to why coffee is beneficial, and one of them was based on caffeine, but it seems that this is not the case and therefore it could be other elements such as polyphenols and melanoidins,” explained the researcher.
The study focused only on coffee, not other caffeinated beverages, and found that levels of beneficial compounds in each serving can vary depending on the bean, roast, and brewing method.
“The good news is that the results show a reduction in the risk of developing this type of cancer, regardless of the flavor or type of coffee,” Schmit said.
The study, which examined some 5,100 people who had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the past six months, was conducted in northern Israel, although, according to Schmit, the results “can be extrapolated to other populations.”
The sample included various types of coffee currently consumed around the world and the conclusions were in line with previous scientific research on the properties of coffee to combat this and other types of cancer, such as those that develop in the liver or prostate.