Coffee Kicks Breast Cancer for Some

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It becomes less clear each day why coffee ever got such a bad rap. It may be the "avoid caffeine" craze that swept through the health ranks, or it may just be a conspiracy of rabid tea drinkers. But, new evidence continues to show that coffee is a powerhouse. Previous studies show coffee reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, lowers the risk of heart disease for elderly men, protects against the onset of Parkinson's, and enhances athletic performance. Hmm...

Now, a new study out of Sweden provides good news for women. Some coffee drinkers are less likely to develop breast cancer. Think of it. You can mosey on down to your favorite java hut, grab a "tall caffeinated whatever" and do it all in the name of health. Oh, sure - you can still kick your feet up and relish every last drop of you morning coffee. It will still be just as healthy.

The researchers found that those women with a specific variant of the gene named CYP1A2 had the greatest protection. They studied 460 breast cancer patients. 50% of these women had a gene variant known as A/A, while the other half had either A/C or C/C. The women who had a C form of variant were much less likely to develop cancer.

The C variant women who drank at least 3 cups of coffee each day were only about 67% as likely to develop cancer as the non-coffee drinkers. But, the A/A women also derived some benefit from drinking coffee. The A/A women who drank at least 2 cups of coffee per day developed cancer much later in life than non-drinkers - at an average age of 58 years, compared to 48 years for those drinking no coffee.

More research needs to be completed to confirm the association between coffee consumption and protection from breast cancer.

In the meantime, however, why take a chance? With all the protection coffee has to offer, it's probably best to indulge yourself every now and then. Enjoy...

To read more about the study, see this from ScienceDaily. To read more about the potential health benefits of coffee, see this from the Coffee Science Information Centre.