Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Food and health

Dose–response meta-analysis of coffee consumption and risk of colorectal adenoma

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 74, pages 297–306 (2020)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background

The association between coffee and colorectal adenoma risk remains controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis of cohort and case–control studies to sum up the existing proof about this matter.

Methods

We searched Pubmed, Medline, and Embase for studies published before 1 September 2018 on coffee consumption and colorectal adenoma in any language. The different ORs were calculated for cohort and case–control studies in this study, and we use a random-effects model to aggregate the relative risks of individual studies and conduct dose response, heterogeneity, and publication bias.

Results

A total of 8 studies (6 case–control studies, 2 cohort studies) were identified, including 7090 subjects. In a summary analysis of all studies, high coffee intake (compared the highest with the lowest categories) was associated with a reduced risk of colorectal adenoma (odds ratio [OR] = 0.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.55–0.90). The results of subgroup analysis of adenoma location were similar with the pooled analysis, except for rectal adenoma. In the dose–response meta-analysis study, the estimated total odds ratio for increasing coffee consumption by 150 ml per day (about one cup) was 0.91 (95% CI = 0.87–0.95).

Conclusions

The meta-analysis demonstrates possible evidence that increased coffee intake is related to a reduced risk of colon adenoma. However, because of latent confusion and different exposure classification, this finding should be carefully considered.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Arnold M, Sierra MS, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, Bray F. Global patterns and trends in colorectal cancer incidence and mortality. Gut. 2017;66:683–91.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Dorea JG, da Costa TH. Is coffee a functional food? Br J Nutr. 2005;93:773–82.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Thomson CA, Martinez ME. Coffee, tea, what beverage for me? Associations between beverage intake and colorectal neoplasia risk. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2010;102:749–51.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. La Vecchia C, Tavani A. Coffee and cancer risk: an update. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2007;16:385–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Vargas AJ, Thompson PA. Diet and nutrient factors in colorectal cancer risk. Nutr Clin Pr. 2012;27:613–23.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Kashino I, Akter S, Mizoue T, Sawada N, Kotemori A, Matsuo K, et al. Coffee drinking and colorectal cancer and its subsites: a pooled analysis of 8 cohort studies in Japan. Int J Cancer. 2018;143:307–16.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gan Y, Wu J, Zhang S, Li L, Cao S, Mkandawire N, et al. Association of coffee consumption with risk of colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Oncotarget. 2017;8:18699–711.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Tian C, Wang W, Hong Z, Zhang X. Coffee consumption and risk of colorectal cancer: a dose-response analysis of observational studies. Cancer Causes Control. 2013;24:1265–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Yu X, Bao Z, Zou J, Dong J. Coffee consumption and risk of cancers: a meta-analysis of cohort studies. BMC Cancer. 2011;11:96.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  10. Horisaki K, Takahashi K, Ito H, Matsui S. A dose-response meta-analysis of coffee consumption and colorectal cancer risk in the Japanese population: application of a cubic-spline model. J Epidemiol. 2018;28:503–9.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Vieira AR, Abar L, Chan DSM, Vingeliene S, Polemiti E, Stevens C, et al. Foods and beverages and colorectal cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies, an update of the evidence of the WCRF-AICR Continuous Update Project. Ann Oncol. 2017;28:1788–802.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang X, Albanes D, Beeson WL, van den Brandt PA, Buring JE, Flood A, et al. Risk of colon cancer and coffee, tea, and sugar-sweetened soft drink intake: pooled analysis of prospective cohort studies. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2010;102:771–83.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Je Y, Liu W, Giovannucci E. Coffee consumption and risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Int J Cancer. 2009;124:662–8.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Giovannucci E. Meta-analysis of coffee consumption and risk of colorectal cancer. Am J Epidemiol. 1998;147:1043–52.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Li G, Ma D, Zhang Y, Zheng W, Wang P. Coffee consumption and risk of colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Public Health Nutr. 2013;16:346–57.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Akter S, Kashino I, Mizoue T, Matsuo K, Ito H, Wakai K, et al. Coffee drinking and colorectal cancer risk: an evaluation based on a systematic review and meta-analysis among the Japanese population. Jpn J Clin Oncol. 2016;46:781–7.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Leslie A, Carey FA, Pratt NR. The colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Br J Surg. 2002;89:845–60.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Courtney ED, Melville DM, Leicester RJ. Review article: chemoprevention of colorectal cancer. Aliment Pharm Ther. 2004;19:1–24.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Wells G, Shea B, O’Connell D, Peterson J, Welch V, Losos M, et al. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for assessing the quality of non-randomised studies in meta-analyses. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2015;34:887–97.

  20. Greenland S. Quantitative methods in the review of epidemiologic literature. Epidemiol Rev. 1987;9:1–30.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Hamling J, Lee P, Weitkunat R, Ambuhl M. Facilitating meta-analyses by deriving relative effect and precision estimates for alternative comparisons from a set of estimates presented by exposure level or disease category. Stat Med. 2008;27:954–70.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Greenland S, Longnecker MP. Methods for trend estimation from summarized dose-response data, with applications to meta-analysis. Am J Epidemiol. 1992;135:1301–9.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Orsini N, Bellocco R, Greenland S. Generalized least squares for trend estimation of summarized dose-response data. Stata J. 2006;6:40–57.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Shimazu T, Tsubono Y, Kuriyama S, Ohmori K, Koizumi Y, Nishino Y, et al. Coffee consumption and the risk of primary liver cancer: pooled analysis of two prospective studies in Japan. International journal of cancer. J Int CCancer. 2005;116:150–4.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Higgins JP, Thompson SG. Quantifying heterogeneity in a meta-analysis. Stat Med. 2002;21:1539–58.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Egger M, Davey Smith G, Schneider M, Minder C. Bias in meta-analysis detected by a simple, graphical test. BMJ. 1997;315:629–34.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Kato I, Tominaga S, Matsuura A, Yoshii Y, Shirai M, Kobayashi S. A comparative case-control study of colorectal cancer and adenoma. Jpn J Cancer Res Gann. 1990;81:1101–8.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Kono S, Shinchi K, Ikeda N, Yanai F, Imanishi K. Physical activity, dietary habits and adenomatous polyps of the sigmoid colon: a study of self-defense officials in Japan. J Clin Epidemiol. 1991;44:1255–61.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Lee WC, Neugut AI, Garbowski GC, Forde KA, Treat MR, Waye JD, et al. Cigarettes, alcohol, coffee, and caffeine as risk factors for colorectal adenomatous polyps. Ann Epidemiol. 1993;3:239–44.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Olsen J, Kronborg O. Coffee, tobacco and alcohol as risk factors for cancer and adenoma of the large intestine. Int J Epidemiol. 1993;22:398–402.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Baron JA, Greenberg ER, Haile R, Mandel J, Sandler RS, Mott L. Coffee and tea and the risk of recurrent colorectal adenomas. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark Prev. 1997;6:7–10.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Almendingen K, Hofstad B, Trygg K, Hoff G, Hussain A, Vatn M. Current diet and colorectal adenomas: a case-control study including different sets of traditionally chosen control groups. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2001;10:395–406.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Budhathoki S, Iwasaki M, Yamaji T, Sasazuki S, Tsugane S. Coffee intake and the risk of colorectal adenoma: the colorectal adenoma study in Tokyo. Int J Cancer. 2015;137:463–70.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Nakamura T, Ishikawa H, Mutoh M, Wakabayashi K, Kawano A, Sakai T, et al. Coffee prevents proximal colorectal adenomas in Japanese men: a prospective cohort study. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2016;25:388–94.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Sartini M, Bragazzi NL, Spagnolo AM, Schinca E, Ottria G, Dupont C, et al. Coffee consumption and risk of colorectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies. Nutrients. 2019;11:E694.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Ludwig IA, Clifford MN, Lean ME, Ashihara H, Crozier A. Coffee: biochemistry and potential impact on health. Food Funct 2014;5:1695–717.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Cavin C, Holzhaeuser D, Scharf G, Constable A, Huber WW, Schilter B. Cafestol and kahweol, two coffee specific diterpenes with anticarcinogenic activity. Food Chem Toxicol. 2002;40:1155–63.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Majer BJ, Hofer E, Cavin C, Lhoste E, UHhi M, Glatt. HR, et al. Coffee diterpenes prevent the genotoxic effects of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b] pyridine (PhIP) and N-nitrosodimethylamine in a human derived liver cell line (HepG2). Food Chem Toxicol. 2005;43:433–41.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Feng R, Lu Y, Bowman LL, Qian Y, Castranova V, Ding M. Inhibition of activator protein-1, NF-kappaB, and MAPKs and induction of phase 2 detoxifying enzyme activity by chlorogenic acid. J Biol Chem. 2005;280:27888–95.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Asaad NA, Zeng ZC, Guan J, Thacker J, Iliakis G. Homologous recombination as a potential target for caffeine radiosensitization in mammalian cells: reduced caffeine radiosensitization in XRCC2 and XRCC3 mutants. Oncogene. 2000;19:5788–800.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Joerges C, Kuntze I, Herzinger T. Induction of a caffeine-sensitive S-phase cell cycle checkpoint by psoralen plus ultraviolet A radiation. Oncogene. 2003;22:6119–28.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Higdon JV, Frei B. Coffee and health: a review of recent human research. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2006;46:101–23.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Potter JD. Reconciling the epidemiology, physiology, and molecular biology of colon cancer. JAMA. 1992;268:1573–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author contributions

YW, JC, YZ, XTW: making the conception and design of this study. YW, JC, RZ, LX, YPC, ZYR, YZ, TXW: data generation, collection, assembly, analysis, and/or interpretation. YW, YZ, XTW: the manuscript drafting or revising. YW, JC, RZ, LX, YPC, ZYR, YZ, TXW: making the approval of the final version of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

    Yong Wang, Rui Zhao, Lin Xia, Ya-Ping Cui, Yong Zhou & Xiao-Ting Wu

  2. Healthcare-Associated Infection Control Center, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, China

    Jing Chen

  3. Department of Clinical Nutrition, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China

    zhi-yong Rao

Authors
  1. Yong Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jing Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rui Zhao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lin Xia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ya-Ping Cui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. zhi-yong Rao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yong Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Xiao-Ting Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yong Zhou or Xiao-Ting Wu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, Y., Chen, J., Zhao, R. et al. Dose–response meta-analysis of coffee consumption and risk of colorectal adenoma. Eur J Clin Nutr 74, 297–306 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-019-0467-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-019-0467-0

Search

Advanced search

Quick links