Objective With the increase in coffee consumption, its impact on health has garnered significant attention. However, the relationship between coffee intake and cancer risk remains controversial in epidemiological studies. To summarize the most reliable evidence on coffee consumption and cancer risk, we conducted a comprehensive review of meta-analyses examining the association between coffee consumption and cancer risk in various populations.
Methods Meta-analyses of observational studies were conducted, utilizing searches of the PubMed and Web of Science databases to identify associations between coffee intake and cancer risk.
Results A total of 24 observational studies comprising 76 non-overlapping associations were included in this umbrella review. Coffee intake was found to be associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer, brain cancer, colon cancer, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, liver cancer, melanoma, non-melanoma, oral cancer, and oral/pharyngeal cancer. Conversely, coffee intake was associated with a high risk of urothelial carcinoma and bladder cancer.
Conclusion Moderate consumption of coffee has a wide range of potential benefits in reducing the risk of cancer. Further well-designed randomized controlled trials, taking into account other factors that may have contributed to bias, are needed to investigate the association between coffee consumption and cancer in other anatomical sites.