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Coffee Drinking and Endometrial Cancer

  • Cancer (MF Leitzmann, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Emerging data supports a possible inverse relationship between coffee drinking and the development of endometrial cancer. Recent meta-analyses of prospective cohort and case–control studies have consistently reported a 7–10 % decreased risk of endometrial cancer per cup of coffee consumed per day. The risk reduction for endometrial cancer appears greatest for women who are overweight or obese versus leaner women and suggests that prevention efforts could be targeted at this subgroup of women who are at the highest risk of developing endometrial cancer. Potential mechanisms that may link coffee drinking to reduced endometrial cancer incidence include lowered exposure to endogenous estrogen levels through raised circulating sex hormone-binding globulin levels, or improvements in insulin sensitivity. This review summarizes results from studies on coffee drinking habits and endometrial cancer development, highlights mechanisms that may link coffee intake to endometrial carcinogenesis, and discusses areas for further research that could inform endometrial cancer prevention strategies.

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Melissa A. Merritt and Marc J. Gunter declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, St Mary′s Campus, Norfolk Place, London, W2 1PG, UK

    Melissa A. Merritt & Marc J. Gunter

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Correspondence to Marc J. Gunter.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Cancer

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Merritt, M.A., Gunter, M.J. Coffee Drinking and Endometrial Cancer. Curr Nutr Rep 4, 40–46 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-014-0112-4

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