Java Jolts Cancer Risk

The most dangerous type of skin cancer, malignant melanoma is difficult cancer to treat.  Scientists are exploring modifiable factors – including bioactive components in foods – that may reduce disease risk.  Erikka Loftfield, from the US National Cancer Institute (Maryland, USA), and colleagues analyzed data collected on 447,357 men and women enrolled in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study.  Participants were cancer-free at baseline, followed for 10 years, and data adjusted for confounding factors.  Data analysis revealed that the highest coffee intake was inversely associated with a risk of malignant melanoma, with a 20% lower risk for those who consumed 4 cups per day or more. There was also a trend toward more protection with higher intake, with team observing the protection was against malignant melanoma but not melanoma in-situ.  The study authors submit that: “Higher coffee intake was associated with a modest decrease in risk of melanoma in this large US cohort study.”