Whether filtered, espresso or decaffeinated, coffee has protective effects against colorectal cancer. 2 and a half cups are enough to see the benefits.
For some it is an art of living, for others a real addiction. But it could prove to be less harmful than its peers. According to the results of a study from the University of Southern California (USC), published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a new benefit could be attributed to it: its consumption very significantly reduces the risk of contracting colorectal cancer.
The study, carried out from an Israeli cohort of Arabs, European and North African Jews, involved 9,242 people, of whom 5,145 had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the previous 6 months. By eliminating other risk factors, researchers have managed to identify very clear benefits associated with coffee consumption.
In people who drank moderate coffee – between one and two cups a day – the risk of developing the disease was reduced by 26%. And among amateurs who exceeded two and a half cups a day, they could be halved!
The miracles of decaf
More surprising for scientists, the results differed according to the variety, the roasting and the method of preparation, but they were positive in all cases: espresso, filtered coffee, instant coffee… Even decaffeinated works! “We were a little surprised that caffeine didn’t seem to have an influence,” says Dr. Stephen Gruber, director of the Center for Cancer Studies at USC, author of the study. This indicates that caffeine alone cannot be held responsible for the protective effects of coffee. “
The caffeine and polyphenols in coffee are antioxidants, and may limit the growth of colon cancer cells. Roasted melanoidins and diterpenes may also have a role to play, according to the USC team.
“Although these clues suggest that this is the case, we need to do more research before recommending coffee preventively,” says Dr Gruber. Having said that, the risks associated with consumption being low, I would be prepared to encourage coffee lovers to revel in the high likelihood that their daily cup will lower their risk of colorectal cancer ”.
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