Coffee Inversely Linked to Risk of Oral, Pharyngeal Cancer

by -- Eric Metcalf
Updated: Jun 23rd 2010

WEDNESDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- Drinking caffeinated coffee appears to be associated with a lower risk of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, according to research published online June 22 in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Carlotta Galeone, Ph.D., of the Università degli Studi di Milano in Italy, and colleagues pooled data from nine case-control studies of head and neck cancers that included 5,139 cases and 9,028 controls.

The researchers found that caffeinated coffee consumption was associated with a lower risk of cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx, with an odds ratio of 0.96 for each one-cup increment per day and 0.61 for people drinking more than four cups daily, compared to nondrinkers. However, caffeinated coffee was not associated with laryngeal cancer risk. Decaffeinated coffee wasn't associated with increased risk, though the data did not permit detailed analysis. Tea consumption was not found to be associated with risk of head and neck cancer.

"Given the widespread use of coffee and the high incidence and low survival of head and neck cancers, it is important to conclusively establish whether the observed association between caffeinated coffee drinking and head and neck cancer risk is causal, as this would have appreciable public health relevance, although alcohol and tobacco remain the key risk factors for cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx in most populations," the authors conclude.

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