Coffee and PCa

[PCaWarrior]

1. Mechanisms of Action

• Antioxidant Properties: Coffee contains compounds such as chlorogenic acids and polyphenols that exhibit antioxidant effects, neutralizing free radicals and reducing oxidative stress, which can contribute to cancer development.

• Anti-inflammatory Effects: Regular coffee consumption has been linked to decreased levels of inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukins (IL-6, IL-8), potentially lowering the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) progression.

• Modulation of Hormonal Activity: Coffee intake has been associated with increased testosterone levels and reduced concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and estrogen, which may influence PCa development.

• Induction of Autophagy: Certain compounds in coffee can induce autophagy, a cellular process that removes damaged cells, thereby inhibiting cancer cell proliferation.

2. Research & Studies

• Epidemiological Studies:

o A systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that increased coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer, particularly fatal cases.

o Research from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center indicated that coffee consumption is linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer recurrence and progression.

• Mechanistic Studies:

o Laboratory studies have demonstrated that coffee can induce autophagy, regulate the NF-κB pathway, and reduce the expression of inflammatory mediators such as iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8, which are involved in prostate cancer development.

3. Overall Quality of Evidence

• Epidemiological Evidence: Rated B. Multiple observational studies and meta-analyses suggest an inverse association between coffee consumption and prostate cancer risk, particularly for aggressive forms. However, these studies are observational and cannot establish causation.

• Mechanistic Evidence: Rated B. Preclinical studies provide plausible biological mechanisms for coffee's protective effects against prostate cancer.

4. Conclusion

• Coffee consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer, supported by epidemiological studies and plausible biological mechanisms, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hormonal modulation, and autophagy induction effects. However, these findings are primarily based on observational data, and causation cannot be definitively established.

• Coffee consumption has been associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer, supported by epidemiological studies and plausible biological mechanisms, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hormonal modulation, and autophagy induction effects. However, these findings are primarily based on observational data, and causation cannot be definitively established.

• Coffee appears to reduce all-cause mortality risk and mortality risk from PCa, in addition to reducing the likelihood of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, dementia, and type 2 diabetes. These reductions are seen with 3+ cups of coffee per day and appear to be on the order of 10-25%. For aggressive PCa the risk reduction found by the NIH was even more substantial. On the order of 60% for 6+ cup coffee drinkers.

• Organic coffee is preferable to conventional. And whole beans that you grind yourself are as good, if not better, than ground.

• There are at least three components in coffee that are toxic or deleterious to the body. One is cafestol. Cafestol elevates cholesterol. By using filters cafestol can be reduced. The second known toxin is acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is found in many foods but, in general, the percentage in coffee is higher than in most foods. However, the mass of coffee beans used for a cup of coffee is low and the actual amount of acetaldehyde consumed from coffee is extremely low. A note about acetaldehyde: The acetaldehyde created during alcohol consumption is up to 300 times higher than in coffee.

• The third is acrylamide. Acrylamide is higher in instant coffee than in regular and is lowest in dark roasted coffee. Acrylamide is formed while heating the coffee so cold-brewed coffee is quite low in acrylamide.

• There is also some speculation about mycotoxins (mold). However, the levels are low and are of no concern.

• Although there are methods to reduce cafestol, acrylamide, and acetaldehyde, I have come across research indicating that the protective effects from coffee are due in part to one or more of these substances. So, I only lightly filter it. I grind my own organic beans. I enjoy coffee so having 6 cups a day is easy for me. Caffeine is a stimulant and can cause insomnia, so I drink all my coffee by noon.

5. Common side effects

• Coffee containing caffeine can cause:

• Insomnia

• Nervousness

• Restlessness

• Stomach issues

• Nausea

6. References

1. Molecular Mechanisms of Coffee on Prostate Cancer Prevention – PMC

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

2. Coffee consumption and prostate cancer risk and progression in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study – PubMed

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/215...

3. No association: Investigating the possible causal role of coffee consumption with prostate cancer risk and progression using Mendelian randomization analysis – PMC

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

4. Green and light extracts superior: Bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity and antiproliferative effects in prostate cancer cells of green and roasted coffee extracts obtained by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) – PubMed

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/336...

5. Coffee may reduce risk of lethal prostate cancer in men | News | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

hsph.harvard.edu/news/press...

6. Coffee Intake, Caffeine Metabolism Genotype, and Survival Among Men with Prostate Cancer.

urotoday.com/recent-abstrac...

7. Reduction by coffee consumption of prostate cancer risk: Evidence from the Moli‐sani cohort and cellular models - Pounis - 2017 - International Journal of Cancer - Wiley Online Library

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

8. Do Coffee Brewing Methods Matter for Health? | Mark’s Daily Apple

marksdailyapple.com/do-coff...

9. Acrylamide in Coffee: Should You be concerned?

healthline.com/nutrition/ac...

10. Debunking the Myth About Mycotoxins in Coffee

healthline.com/nutrition/th...

11. Coffee diterpenes kahweol acetate and cafestol synergistically inhibit the proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells - Iwamoto - 2019 - The Prostate - Wiley Online Library

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

12. Coffee may keep prostate cancer recurrence and progression away - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

fredhutch.org/en/news/relea....

13. Coffee consumption reduces mortality risk: Coffee Consumption and All-Cause, Cardiovascular, and Cancer Mortality in an Adult Mediterranean Population - PMC

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

14. Cafestol extraction yield from different coffee brew mechanisms – ScienceDirect:

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

15. Coffee consumption and risk of prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis | BMJ Open

bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/...

16. Dietary acrylamide and cancer risk: An updated meta‐analysis - Pelucchi - 2015 - International Journal of Cancer - Wiley Online Library

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

[PCaWarrior]

The evidence for coffee's protective and potential therapeutic effects are much more substantial and of better quality than most natural substances.

[GreenStreet]

Thanks. That is encouraging because I love a cup of coffee and normally have about 3 cups a day. I think I read somewhere that you get most benefit by drinking in the morning. I tend not to drink it after 1400.. Any indications whether you could get same benefits fron decaf? I don’t drink decaf

[Maxone73]

and, since if not too filtered, it has a decent amount of fibers, it's good also for your microbiome

[Maxone73]

another thing worth noticing (I came across the info by chance) when in coffee studies they refer to cups, they mean 100ml, usually mugs are around 200/220 ml

[Cooolone]

Was always a tea drinker, lots of Green Tea as well around the time of diagnosis (2017). Never enjoyed coffee...

Weirdly until around 2022, post Chemo, began drinking. Eventually switching over to daily coffee. Maybe because the caffeine kick offsetting the fatigue? Who knows... Sometimes I believe the body does, without being able to telegraph it!

But now I'm a coffee pour-over snob, lol! Love it and need my daily cup of java!

Is great to see added benefit to it, hahaha

Thanks for posting!

PS: another post printing to PDF to preserve the info/links

[PCaWarrior in reply to Cooolone]

Coffee has a decent amount of evidence. More than most any other supplement. A lot more than tea.

[dhccpa]

Can you run the same query just making it decaf coffee? Thanks

[PCaWarrior in reply to dhccpa]

Decaf doesn't have as much research. But it has some. I've seen some speculation that caffeine is the main anti-PCa substance in coffee. But not the only one according to much research. So, we don't really know for certain. If it's after noon, I drink decaf.

[PCaWarrior in reply to dhccpa]

Ran query. AI response is about what I wrote. Just a lot more eloquent.

"Evidence suggests that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee contain bioactive compounds like antioxidants and polyphenols that may contribute to protective effects in prostate cancer. However, some observational studies have noted that caffeinated coffee might be associated with a slightly greater reduction in risk, possibly due to caffeine’s additional metabolic and anti-inflammatory actions. Overall, while caffeinated coffee may offer marginally enhanced benefits, decaf coffee still retains many protective components. More direct comparative research is needed to conclusively determine if one is significantly better than the other for prostate cancer outcomes."

[dhccpa in reply to PCaWarrior]

Thanks. So a small caff and mucho decaf might solve the issue. I drink both now anyway, but good to clarify.

[PCaWarrior in reply to dhccpa]

It's funny. When I was going through the divorce junk I ate horribly and neglected most of my therapies. But for some reason I kept drinking lots of coffee.

[dhccpa in reply to PCaWarrior]

Damn those divorces!

[NanoMRI]

I must not have drank enough having two metastatic cancers On other hand, seven years very very low stable uPSA, no ADT, whilst taking other supplements unsupported by equivalent evidence. All the best to all of us.

[Eadgbe]

I used to dring 2-4 cups daily. Morning 3, afternoon 1. After radiation I cannot drink afternoon coffee because it irritates my colon and my QOL deteriorates.

[PCaWarrior in reply to Eadgbe]

I usually don't drink caffeinated coffee after noon. The caffeine keeps me awake.

[MateoBeach]

your reference #4 is important in comparing coffee types. I love a cup in the morning. But cold green coffee extract may be a better source for chlorogenic acid. Etc. Life Extension CoffeeGenic 400mg is the one I use (intermittently).

[PCaWarrior in reply to MateoBeach]

I sometimes use green also. Most of the research has been done on black though and I like it much better. And it's cheaper - I get it at a grocery store.