| Last month, I reviewed research showing that | | | | cause, during this decade-long public health study. |
| increased coffee consumption was associated with a | | | | The coffee-associated reduction in the risk of death |
| decrease in inflammation and an increase in HDL | | | | from cardiovascular disease was even more powerful |
| cholesterol (the "good cholesterol"). However, as I | | | | (and also appeared to be "dose-dependent"), as the |
| noted in that column, this small study did not address | | | | women who downed 3 or more cups of coffee per |
| any long-term health outcomes of frequent coffee | | | | day experienced a whopping 55 percent decrease in |
| consumption (Coffee Improves HDL Cholesterol | | | | the risk of death due to cardiovascular causes! Finally, |
| Levels). Now, a newly published prospective public | | | | there was an apparent modest decrease in the risk |
| health study, from Japan, suggests that regular | | | | of dying from colorectal cancer among the female |
| coffee consumption may, indeed, have long-term | | | | coffee drinkers, but no other reduction in the risk of |
| health benefits (at least for half of the population...). (I | | | | dying from cancer was observed in association with |
| should also note that, as a disclaimer, I am not a | | | | regular coffee consumption among these women |
| coffee drinker, despite reviewing two coffee-related | | | | volunteers. |
| health research studies in as many months!) | | | | Well, I have just shared with you the good news |
| The results of this large Japanese research study | | | | regarding reduced death rates associated with regular |
| appear in the current issue of the Journal of Nutrition. | | | | coffee consumption from this large, prospective, |
| In this prospective epidemiological study, 18,287 men | | | | long-term public health study; and many of you will |
| and 19,455 women (between the ages of 40 and 64 | | | | notice that I have not yet mentioned the health |
| years) were prospectively included in the Miyagi | | | | impact of coffee on men! This is because, |
| Cohort Study, which began in 1990. All of these | | | | unfortunately, this study did not identify any |
| study volunteers were without any clinical history of | | | | apparent beneficial health effects of regular coffee |
| cancer, heart disease, or stroke when they entered | | | | consumption in men. |
| into the Study. After an average of more than 10 | | | | The reason, or reasons, for this gender-related |
| years of follow-up, 2,454 of the volunteers died from | | | | disparity is not clear, although it is well known that |
| various causes, including 426 cases of fatal | | | | there are major differences in both the incidence of |
| cardiovascular disease and 724 fatal cases of cancer. | | | | cardiovascular disease between men and women, |
| These volunteers were categorized and analyzed | | | | and differences in the way that cardiovascular |
| according to their self-reported daily consumption of | | | | diseases (and heart disease, in particular) manifest |
| coffee: "never-drinkers," "occasional-drinkers," 1 to 2 | | | | themselves in women versus men. It is, therefore, |
| cups per day, and 3 or more cups per day. Other | | | | possible, that cardiovascular disease factors that are |
| known risk factors for cardiovascular disease | | | | more unique to women are directly impacted upon |
| (including heart disease and stroke) and cancer were | | | | by regular coffee consumption. (At least no adverse |
| also factored into the analysis of the risk of death | | | | effects of regular coffee consumption on male |
| associated with coffee consumption for each | | | | mortality were observed in this large public health |
| volunteer. | | | | study!) |
| Among the women in this study, increasing levels of | | | | So, ladies, keep the favorable results of this clinical |
| daily coffee consumption were associated a | | | | research study in mind whenever you order that |
| decreasing risk of death, due to any cause. (This | | | | next cuppa Joe! |
| "dose-dependent" relationship between daily coffee | | | | To learn more about the role of coffee, and other |
| consumption and risk of death strongly suggests a | | | | sources of dietary tannins, as potential cancer |
| direct clinical relationship between increased coffee | | | | prevention nutrients, look for the publication of my |
| consumption and a decreased risk of death.) When | | | | new landmark evidence-based book, "A Cancer |
| compared to the women who did not drink coffee at | | | | Prevention Guide for the Human Race," in the |
| all, the women who drank 3 or more cups of java | | | | summer of this year. |
| per day were 25 percent less likely to die, from any | | | | |