Coffee consumption and risk of prostate cancer: a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between coffee consumption and the risk of prostate cancer.


METHODS
We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the bibliographies of relevant articles in August 2009. Two evaluators independently reviewed and selected articles based on predetermined selection criteria.


RESULTS
Twelve epidemiological studies (eight case-control studies and four cohort studies) were included in the final analysis. In a meta-analysis of all included studies, when compared with the lowest level of coffee consumption, the overall relative risk (RR) of prostate cancer for the highest level of coffee consumption was 1.16 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.33). In subgroup meta-analyses by study design, there was a significant positive (harmful) association between coffee consumption and prostate cancer risk in seven case-control studies using both crude and adjusted data (RR 1.20, 95% CI 1.02-1.40; and RR 1.21, 95% CI 1.03-1.43, respectively), whereas there was no significant association in four cohort studies using crude or adjusted data (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.68-1.38; and RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.83-1.35, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Given that a cohort study gives a higher level of evidence than a case-control study, there is no evidence to support a harmful effect of coffee consumption on prostate cancer risk. Further prospective cohort studies are required.
Park
Chang-Hae
CH
Family Medicine Clinic and Center for Cancer Prevention and Detection, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
Myung
Seung-Kwon
SK
Kim
Tae-Yeon
TY
Seo
Hong Gwan
HG
Jeon
Young-Jee
YJ
Kim
Yeol
Y
D003069:Coffee / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*
D003069:Coffee