In the United States, endometrial cancer at one point in life affects 1 in 37 women.
A new study conducted by the staff of Imperial College London, shows that only 3-4 cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of endometrial cancer by 18-19%.
Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer of female reproductive organs.
This type of cancer originates in the cells of the endometrium - the inner mucosa that lining the uterus. Endometrial cancer is rare in women younger than 45. In the US about? all cases of this disease are women aged 55 years and over.
According to the forecasts of the American Cancer Society (ACS), about 55,000 new cases of endometrial cancer and uterine sarcoma are expected in 2015, and more than 10,000 patients will die from these two diseases.
Although the exact causes of endometrial cancer remain a subject of debate, research conducted in previous years suggests that the disease is associated with hormonal imbalance, diabetes, obesity, unhealthy diets and some other factors.
In a recent study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, Dr. Melissa A Merritt of Imperial College London and her staff decided to learn more about the risk factors for endometrial cancer.
3-4 cups of coffee a day reduce the risk of endometrial cancer by almost 1/5.
Scientists examined a group of 1,303 women with endometrial cancer who participated in a major European study of the European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). All participants filled out questionnaires, according to which scientists could analyze the relationship of cancer with 84 common foods and drinks.
Some facts about endometrial cancer:.
• Endometrial cancer is more common in white women, but blacks have a higher mortality rate.
• Women with overweight or obese are 3.5 times more likely to suffer from endometrial cancer.
• Thanks to effective therapy in the US today lives 600 thousand women who have won this disease.
Analyzing data from the EPIC cohort, the researchers identified 9 food groups and individual nutrients that can have a definite effect on the risk of endometrial cancer: fats, monounsaturated fats, phosphorus, carbohydrates, yoghurts, butter, potatoes, cheeses and coffee.
They then analyzed a group of 1531 women with endometrial cancer who participated in national health studies of nurses Nurses 'Health Study (NHS) and Nurses' Health Study II (NHSII) conducted in the USA. These participants also filled out detailed questionnaires indicating food preferences.
Scientists compared the data of the European and American cohorts, and came to an interesting conclusion.
It turned out that consuming at least 3 cups of coffee per day is associated with a 19% reduction in the risk of endometrial cancer compared to those who drink less than 1 cup of coffee a day (in women from the EPIC cohort). In the American NHS / NHSII cohort, consuming 4 cups of coffee a day leads to a reduction in risk by 18% compared to those who do not drink coffee at all.
When analyzing data from the EPIC study, scientists identified three groups of nutrients that help reduce the risk of the disease:.
•Phosphorus.
•Fatty food.
• Monounsaturated fats Two other groups of foods and nutrients are associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer:.
•Butter.
• Carbohydrates However, the latest results were confirmed only for the European cohort. Scientists have not been able to detect such a connection among participants from the NHS / NHSII.
Researchers say that previous studies have already identified the relationship between coffee consumption and a reduction in the risk of endometrial cancer. Their research confirmed and substantially supplemented this data.
Dr. Merritt summed up: "Drinking coffee is something that you need to continue to study and use more actively in the prevention of cancer. Nevertheless, before conducting clinical recommendations, additional studies should be carried out for a deeper and more comprehensive study of this issue. You should also try to isolate the active substances of coffee, which are responsible for the preventive effect ".
The study was conducted with the financial support of the National Institutes of Health of the United States (NIH).
By the way, drinking coffee is useful not only for the prevention of endometrial cancer. Recently, a medical journal, The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, wrote that 4 cups of this drink a day can significantly reduce the risk of melanoma - skin cancer. And in April 2014, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston reported that coffee reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.
medbe. en.