A cup of coffee (Photo : Reuters/Jorge Silva)
A new study conducted by Lund University has found that coffee protects against breast cancer recurrence, Nature World News reported.
The study, which was published in the journal Clinical Cancer Research, found that coffee impedes the tumor growth and decreases the risk of recurrence in women who have been detected with breast cancer and treated with the breast cancer drug tamoxifen.
Researchers from the Lund University looked at coffee consumption among 1,090 women with breast cancer. They found that among 500 women treated with tamoxifen, women who had consumed two cups of coffee per day had half the risk of recurrence of women who consumed less coffee.
It was also found that women who consumed two cups of coffee a day had a lower proportion of hormone-dependent tumors and smaller tumors.
Scientists said that the caffeic acid and caffeine found in coffee is responsible for its health benefits. They explained that the breast cancer cells reacted to these substances, particularly caffeine, with increased cell death and reduced cell division, particularly in combination with the drug tamoxifen. This indicates that the caffeic acid and caffeine have an effect on the breast cancer cells and switch off signalling pathways that the cancer cells need to flourish.
Coffee offers other benefits as well. According to Medical News Today, drinking coffee protects against liver cancer, liver disease, Parkinson's disease and type 2 diabetes. In addition, consuming coffee in moderation protects against heart failure. However, consuming too much coffee can cause adverse effects such as anxiety and depression.
