Can these two coffee compounds inhibit prostate cancer?
| Mar 19, 2019, 12:40 IST
We're all aware that consuming coffee can have various health benefits for us. And while past research has found that it could possibly even prevent prostate cancer, new research has now found how exactly consuming coffee can do so. Kanazawa University in Japan conducted research wherein the researchers analysed six compounds that are naturally found in coffee. These compounds were tested on human prostate cancer cells in a petri dish. It was then found that two compounds in particular - cafestol and kahweol acetate had the best effects in slowing down the growth of cancer cells.
The research was then moved on to mice wherein 16 mice were divided into four groups. One was administered cafestol, the second was administered kahweol acetate, the third was administered both the compounds and the fourth was simply a control group. It was found that individually these compounds worked wonders in inhibiting cancer cell growth but together they worked even better.
"We also found the growth reduction in transplanted tumor cells, rather than in native tumor cells. What it does show is that these compounds appear to have an effect on drug resistant prostate cancer cells in the right circumstances, and that they too need further investigation. We are currently considering how we might test these findings in a larger sample, and then in humans," explained one researcher.
The study also analysed research conducted on Italian men who drank at least three cups of coffee per day. It was found that these men had a 53% reduced risk of developing prostate cancer. However, it was also noted that these men drank Italian coffee, which means that the way it was brewed, the temperatures and the pressure might also play a role in the way the coffee's compounds behaved. Stay tuned for more updates.
The research was then moved on to mice wherein 16 mice were divided into four groups. One was administered cafestol, the second was administered kahweol acetate, the third was administered both the compounds and the fourth was simply a control group. It was found that individually these compounds worked wonders in inhibiting cancer cell growth but together they worked even better.
"We also found the growth reduction in transplanted tumor cells, rather than in native tumor cells. What it does show is that these compounds appear to have an effect on drug resistant prostate cancer cells in the right circumstances, and that they too need further investigation. We are currently considering how we might test these findings in a larger sample, and then in humans," explained one researcher.
The study also analysed research conducted on Italian men who drank at least three cups of coffee per day. It was found that these men had a 53% reduced risk of developing prostate cancer. However, it was also noted that these men drank Italian coffee, which means that the way it was brewed, the temperatures and the pressure might also play a role in the way the coffee's compounds behaved. Stay tuned for more updates.