Can drinking coffee or tea help prevent head and neck cancer?
A recent study found that consuming coffee and tea is linked to lower risks of head and neck cancers, with caffeinated coffee providing the most significant protective effects. The study highlighted the complex relationship between these beverages and different cancer types, calling for further research to understand their impact.
A recent analysis of data from over a dozen studies has revealed that coffee and tea consumption is associated with lower risks of developing head and neck cancers, including those of the mouth and throat.The findings , published online by Wiley in the American Cancer Society's peer reviewed journal , CANCER, highlight significant insights.
Head and neck cancer ranks as the seventh most common cancer worldwide with increasing rated in low and middle income countries . Previous studies on the link between coffee or tea consumption and head and neck cancer have yielded inconsistent results.
To gain further insight, researchers analyzed data from 14 studies conducted by scientists affiliated with the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology consortium, which comprises research groups globally.Participants completed questionnaires detailling their consumption of caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee,and tea.
The pooled data from 9,548 head and neck cancer patients and 15,783 controls revealed that individuals consuming more than four cups of caffeinated coffee daily had a 17% lower risk of head and neck cancer,30% lower odds of oral cavity cancer , and 22% lower odds of throat cancer compared to non-coffee drinkers . Additionally, drinking 3-4 cups of caffeinated coffee was linked to a 41% lower risk of hypopharyngeal cancer.
Decaffeinated coffee consumption was associated with a 25% lower risk of oral cavity cancer. Tea consumption was linked to a 29% lower risk of hypopharyngeal cancer. Drinking up to one cup of tea daily correlated with a 9% lower risk of head and neck cancer and a 27% lower risk of hypopharyngeal cancer , but consuming more than one cup was associated with a 38% higher risk of laryngeal cancer.
While previous research has indicated potential protective effect of coffee and tea against cancer , this study underscores their varying impacts on different subsites of head and neck cancer , noting that even decaffeinated coffee had some positive effects .
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