Health Fitness

Coffee could help keep dangerous prostate cancers at bay, scientists believe.

A 20-year study of almost 50,000 men found that those who regularly drank the beverage were 60 per cent less likely to develop fast-growing, hard-to-treat forms of the cancer, than others.

The researchers, from Harvard Medical School in US, believe that ingredients other than caffeine are behind the benefit.

    Men who regularly drank coffee were 60 per cent less likely to develop fast-growing, hard-to-treat forms of prostate cancer

They told and American Association for Cancer Research conference: 'Coffee has effects on insulin and glucose metabolism as well as sex hormone levels, all of which play a role in prostate cancer.

'Very few lifestyle factors have been consistently associated with prostate cancer risk, especially with risk of aggressive disease, so it would be very exciting if this association is confirmed in other studies.

'Our results do suggest there is no reason to stop drinking coffee out of any concern about prostate cancer.'

Helen Rippon, of the Prostate Cancer Charity, said: 'This research does provide a clue that coffee drinking might reduce the likelihood of a man being diagnosed with a more advanced prostate cancer, although there is still more research to do to confirm this and to uncover which component of coffee could be responsible.

'We would not recommend that men cultivate a heavy coffee drinking habit on the back of this research, not least because a high caffeine intake can cause other health problems.

'However, men who already enjoy a regular cup of coffee should be reassured that they do not need to give this up for the sake of their prostate.'

The conference also heard details of a study which found that just 15 minutes of exercise a day can cut the risk of death in men with prostate cancer.

The most common from of the disease in British men, prostate cancer affects 35,000 year and kills more than 10,000.

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