The Effect of Coffee on the Prostate Gland

The general consensus used to be that men should avoid coffee for the caffeine, an ingredient believed to be an irritant to the prostate gland. That recommendation may be changing in light of a a December 2009 report suggesting coffee's potential benefit for battling and preventing prostate cancer.

Identification

• The prostate gland is a walnut-sized organ responsible for making ejaculate fluid necessary for fertility. It is found at the base of the male bladder, surrounds the urethra, and often grows as men age for unknown reasons, causing a host of problems.

Effects of Coffee

• The caffeine in coffee increases the need to urinate, irritates the bladder, and worsens symptoms of prostate enlargement. Yet coffee---even decaffeinated coffee---also affects insulin and glucose metabolism, as well as sex hormone levels, all of which are involved with prostate cancer.

Significance

• According to the American Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death for men, affecting one in six.

The Prostate Cancer Study

• A 20-year study of 50,000 men found that those who drank six or more cups of coffee each day were 60 percent less likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer, while men who drank one to three cups daily had a 20 percent lower risk.

Considerations

• The medical community is hesitant to announce a solid relationship between coffee consumption and a reduced risk of prostate cancer just yet. One of the doctors who conducted the study, Kathryn Wilson, Ph.D, warned that coffee habits shouldn't change based on these initial studies, but also said one has little reason to cut back now.