Head and neck cancer risk reduced by drinking coffee

The findings have been published in Cancer, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.

Head and neck cancer is the seventh most common cancer worldwide, with over 12,000 cases diagnosed in the UK each year, according to Cancer Research UK. Many studies have assessed whether drinking coffee or tea is associated with head and neck cancer, with inconsistent results.

To provide additional insight, investigators examined data from 14 studies by different scientists associated with the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology consortium, a collaboration of research groups around the globe. Study participants completed questionnaires about their prior consumption of caffeinated coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and tea in cups per day/week/month/year.