Victorias Teas & Coffees

Health and Coffee

ANTIOXIDANTS

There is evidence that implies antioxidants may offer protective properties that might prevent or postpone the onset of degenerative diseases such as cancer, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cataracts.

In Norway, a recent study (Svilaas 2004) was undertaken to determine the contribution of different food groups to total antioxidant intake.  The study analysed data from a collection of seven day weighed dietary records from a group of 61 adults and a nationwide survey of 2672 Norwegian adults.  Researchers were surprised to find that coffee (mean daily intake 480 mL) was the major contributor to the total intake of antioxidants (66%). A number of previous studies had already indicated high levels of antioxidants in coffee. However, such a high contribution to the total dietary intake of antioxidants had not been reported before. 

Much is yet to be learned about the correlation between coffee/antioxidants and the effects on health – however, these findings represent a significant addition to coffees role in terms of health benefits.

Reference: http://www.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/134/3/562#ABS

LIVER CANCER

A recent Japanese study reported that the risk of liver cancer is lowered by over 40% by drinking one or more cups of coffee per day.  Researchers found that in patients with liver disease the effect was also present. The details of this report appear in the August 10, 2005 issue of the International Journal of Cancer. Incidence of liver cancer in the U.S. is fairly low. However, it is one of the most frequent cancers in the world.  Chronic infections such as hepatitis B and C are a significant cause of liver cancer, reputedly causing 90% of all cases in Japan.

In a previous study from Japan involving over 90,000 middle aged and elderly Japanese, it was reported that liver cancer was less frequent in those who consumed coffee than in abstainers. This reduction in incidence included patients at both high and low risk.  This current study was the result of a collective analysis of two prospective studies in Japan that involved over 40,000 people. These studies had a follow-up of 9 and 7 years, where  occasional coffee drinkers saw a  29% reduction in incidence of liver cancer and daily coffee drinkers had a 42% reduction compared to those who never drank coffee The study also indicated there was a significant inverse relationship between coffee consumption and liver cancer in those with liver disease.

References[Shimazu T, Tsubono Y, Kuriyama S, et al. Coffee consumption and the risk of primary liver cancer: Pooled analysis of two prospective studies in Japan. International Journal of Cancer. 2005;116:150-154.

Inoue M, Yoshimi I, Sobue T, et al. Influence of coffee drinking on subsequent risk of hepatocellular carcinoma: A prospective study in Japan. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2005;97:293-300

DIABETES

A recent study by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital suggests that drinking more coffee could reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This study, released in a recent issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, indicates that regular coffee consumption may ward off diabetes. While this evidence is quite sound, additional research is required to determine whether it is actually coffee or something about coffee drinkers that provides protection.

This latest study corroborates the results of a 2000 of 17,000 Dutch adults, which concluded that those who drank at least seven cups a day were half as likely to develop diabetes

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