Drinking coffee—especially caffeinated coffee—may help reduce the risk of developing endometrial cancer, a common type of cancer that starts in the lining of the uterus. This is the finding of a large review of past studies, published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research.
Endometrial cancer affects thousands of women worldwide each year. It usually occurs after menopause and is linked to factors like obesity, hormone levels, and age. Because of this, scientists have been looking into ways to lower the risk of this disease through diet and lifestyle choices.
In this new analysis, researchers looked at 24 earlier studies involving a total of 699,234 people, among whom 9,833 cases of endometrial cancer were reported. The goal was to see if coffee intake had any effect on the likelihood of developing this type of cancer.
The results showed that people who drank the most coffee had a 29% lower risk of developing endometrial cancer compared to those who drank the least. The researchers also found that caffeinated coffee seemed to offer more protection than decaffeinated coffee.
Although the study does not prove that coffee prevents cancer, it supports the idea that certain compounds in coffee may help protect the body. Coffee is rich in antioxidants and other natural chemicals that may reduce inflammation, regulate hormone levels like insulin and estrogen, and block the growth of cancer cells.
The authors of the study mentioned several possible biological mechanisms that could explain coffee’s protective effect, including how it influences estrogen metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation, all of which are connected to the development of endometrial cancer.
They also pointed out that while the findings are promising, more research is needed—especially larger studies that follow people over time—to better understand how much coffee is needed for protection, and how factors like age, weight, hormone use, or genetics may play a role.
Review and Analysis
This study adds to growing evidence that coffee may have health benefits beyond just helping you stay awake. The potential link between coffee and a lower risk of endometrial cancer is especially important for women, particularly after menopause, when the risk of this cancer increases.
One strength of the analysis is that it looked at a large number of people and many studies, which makes the results more reliable. However, it’s important to remember that this is an observational study—it can show a connection, but it can’t prove that coffee directly causes the reduced risk. Other factors, like lifestyle, exercise, or diet, could also play a part.
Still, the fact that caffeinated coffee seemed to be more effective than decaf hints that caffeine itself may be part of the reason, though it’s likely not the only one. Coffee contains many plant-based compounds that work together in complex ways.
For now, the takeaway is simple: if you already enjoy a few cups of coffee each day, this habit might be doing more than just boosting your energy—it could also be helping to protect your health. But as always, moderation is key, and people with certain conditions (like heart problems or sleep issues) should still be careful with caffeine.
In the future, studies that look at specific types of coffee, serving sizes, and individual health profiles could offer more personalized advice on how coffee can fit into a cancer-prevention lifestyle.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about vitamin D and bowel cancer, and a cautionary note about peanuts and cancer.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the link between ultra-processed foods and cancer, and everyday foods to ward off pancreatic cancer.
The research findings can be found in Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research.
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