Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Green tea and coffee consumption and its association with thyroid cancer risk: a population-based cohort study in Japan

  • Original paper
  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The anticarcinogenic potential of green tea and coffee might be expected to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer, but epidemiological evidence is sparse. We examined green tea and coffee consumption in association with thyroid cancer risk in a general Japanese population.

Methods

We analyzed data from a prospective cohort of 100,507 persons (48,802 men; 51,705 women) aged 40–69. Green tea and coffee consumption were assessed via a self-administered questionnaire. During a mean 14.2-year follow-up, we documented 159 thyroid cancer cases (26 in men; 133 in women), and Cox regression were used to calculated hazard ratios (HRs).

Results

Green tea consumption was not found to be associated with thyroid cancer risk in general. However, when women were stratified by menopausal status, the multivariable HR for ≥5 cups/day versus <1 cup/day was 1.66 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.85–3.23, trend p = 0.04) in premenopausal women, and was 0.47 (95% CI = 0.23–0.96, trend p = 0.06) in postmenopausal women. We found no association between coffee consumption and thyroid cancer risk in either sex.

Conclusions

High green tea consumption may be positively associated with premenopausal thyroid cancer risk, but inversely associated with postmenopausal thyroid cancer risk.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles and news from researchers in related subjects, suggested using machine learning.

References

  1. International Agency for Research on Cancer (2010) Globocan 2008. Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide in 2008. Available at: http://globocan.iarc.fr/. Accessed 6 Sept 2010

  2. Sherman SI (2003) Thyroid carcinoma. Lancet 361:501–511

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Wu X, Groves FD, McLaughlin CC, Jemal A, Martin J, Chen VW (2005) Cancer incidence patterns among adolescents and young adults in the United States. Cancer Causes Control 16:309–320

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Hall P, Adami HO (2008) Thyroid cancer. In: Adami HO, Hunter D, Trichopoulos D (eds) Textbook of cancer epidemiology, 2nd edn. Oxford University Press, New York, pp 636–652

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  5. Dal Maso L, Bosetti C, La Vecchia C, Franceschi S (2009) Risk factors for thyroid cancer: an epidemiological review focused on nutritional factors. Cancer Causes Control 20:75–86

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Preston-Martin S, Franceschi S, Ron E, Negri E (2003) Thyroid cancer pooled analysis from 14 case-control studies: what have we learned? Cancer Causes Control 14:787–789

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Mack WJ, Preston-Martin S, Dal Maso L et al (2003) A pooled analysis of case-control studies of thyroid cancer: cigarette smoking and consumption of alcohol, coffee, and tea. Cancer Causes Control 14:773–785

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Kurahashi N, Inoue M, Iwasaki M, Sasazuki S, Tsugane S (2008) Coffee, green tea, and caffeine consumption and subsequent risk of bladder cancer in relation to smoking status: a prospective study in Japan. Cancer Sci 100:284–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Binns CW, Lee AH, Fraser ML (2008) Tea or coffee? A case study on evidence for dietary advice. Public Health Nutr 11:1132–1141

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Cabrera C, Artacho R, Gimenez R (2006) Beneficial effects of green tea—a review. J Am Coll Nutr 25:79–99

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Nkondjock A (2009) Coffee consumption and the risk of cancer: an overview. Cancer Lett 277:121–125

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Sadani GR, Nadkarni GD (1996) Role of tissue antioxidant defence in thyroid cancers. Cancer Lett 109:231–235

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ohye H, Sugawara M (2010) Dual oxidase, hydrogen peroxide and thyroid diseases. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 235:424–433

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Linos A, Linos DA, Vgotza N, Souvatzoglou A, Koutras DA (1989) Does coffee consumption protect against thyroid disease? Acta Chir Scand 155:317–320

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Takezaki T, Hirose K, Inoue M et al (1996) Risk factors of thyroid cancer among women in Tokai, Japan. J Epidemiol 6:140–147

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Nagata C, Kabuto M, Shimizu H (1998) Association of coffee, green tea, and caffeine intakes with serum concentrations of estradiol and sex hormone-binding globulin in premenopausal Japanese women. Nutr Cancer 30:21–24

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Kotsopoulos J, Eliassen AH, Missmer SA, Hankinson SE, Tworoger SS (2009) Relationship between caffeine intake and plasma sex hormone concentrations in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Cancer 115:2765–2774

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Tsugane S, Sobue T (2001) Baseline survey of JPHC study—design and participation rate. Japan public health center-based prospective study on cancer and cardiovascular diseases. J Epidemiol 11:S24–S29

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Tsubono Y, Kobayashi M, Sasaki S, Tsugane S (2003) Validity and reproducibility of a self-administered food frequency questionnaire used in the baseline survey of the JPHC study cohort I. J Epidemiol 13:S125–S133

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. World Health Organization (2000) International classification of diseases for oncology, 3rd edn. World Health Organization, Geneve

    Google Scholar 

  21. Working group of dietary reference intakes for Japanese (2009) Dietary reference intakes for Japanese, 2010. Diichi Publishing Co, Tokyo, Japan (in Japanese)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Davies L, Welch HG (2006) Increasing incidence of thyroid cancer in the United States, 1973–2002. JAMA 295:2164–2167

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Piantadosi S, Gail MH (1993) A comparison of the power of two tests for qualitative interactions. Stat Med 12:1239–1248

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Candanedo-Gonzalez FA, Gamboa-Dominguez A (2007) Postmenopause is associated with recurrence of differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma. Med Hypotheses 69:209–213

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Liang YC, Lin-shiau SY, Chen CF, Lin JK (1997) Suppression of extracellular signals and cell proliferation through EGF receptor binding by (-)-epigallocatechin gallate in human A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells. J Cell Biochem 67:55–65

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Chen GG, Vlantis AC, Zeng Q, van Hasselt CA (2008) Regulation of cell growth by estrogen signaling and potential targets in thyroid cancer. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 8:367–377

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kawabata W, Suzuki T, Moriya T et al (2003) Estrogen receptors (alpha and beta) and 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 and 2 in thyroid disorders: possible in situ estrogen synthesis and actions. Mod Pathol 16:437–444

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Zeng Q, Chen GG, Vlantis AC, van Hasselt CA (2007) Oestrogen mediates the growth of human thyroid carcinoma cells via an oestrogen receptor-ERK pathway. Cell Prolif 40:921–935

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Yang CS, Chen L, Lee MJ, Balentine D, Kuo MC, Schantz SP (1998) Blood and urine levels of tea catechins after ingestion of different amounts of green tea by human volunteers. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 7:351–354

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Kuruto-Niwa R, Inoue S, Ogawa S, Muramatsu M, Nozawa R (2000) Effects of tea catechins on the ERE-regulated estrogenic activity. J Agric Food Chem 48:6355–6361

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Mukhtar H, Ahmad N (2000) Tea polyphenols: prevention of cancer and optimizing health. Am J Clin Nutr 71:1698S–1702S

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all staff members in each study area. We are indebted to the Aomori, Iwate, Ibaraki, Niigata, Osaka, Kochi, Nagasaki, and Okinawa Cancer Registries for providing their incidence data. This work was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan (until 2009), and by Management Expenses Grants from the Government to the National Cancer Center (since 2010). It has also supported by a Grant-in-Aid for the Third-Term Comprehensive Control Research for Cancer from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan, and by a Grant-in-Aid from Keio Medical Association.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology and Prevention Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening, National Cancer Center, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-0045, Japan

    Takehiro Michikawa, Manami Inoue, Taichi Shimazu, Shizuka Sasazuki, Motoki Iwasaki, Norie Sawada, Taiki Yamaji & Shoichiro Tsugane

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Keio University, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan

    Takehiro Michikawa

Authors
  1. Takehiro Michikawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. Manami Inoue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. Taichi Shimazu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shizuka Sasazuki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  5. Motoki Iwasaki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  6. Norie Sawada
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  7. Taiki Yamaji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  8. Shoichiro Tsugane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Manami Inoue.

Additional information

This study is conducted for Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study Group. The members of the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study Group are listed in “Appendix”.

Appendix

Appendix

Members of the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study (JPHC Study, principal investigator: S. Tsugane) Group are: S. Tsugane, M. Inoue, T. Sobue, and T. Hanaoka, National Cancer Center, Tokyo; J. Ogata, S. Baba, T. Mannami, A. Okayama, and Y. Kokubo, National Cardiovascular Center, Osaka; K. Miyakawa, F. Saito, A. Koizumi, Y. Sano, I. Hashimoto, T. Ikuta and Y. Tanaba, Iwate Prefectural Ninohe Public Health Center, Iwate; Y. Miyajima, N. Suzuki, S. Nagasawa, Y. Furusugi, and N. Nagai, Akita Prefectural Yokote Public Health Center, Akita; H. Sanada, Y. Hatayama, F. Kobayashi, H. Uchino, Y. Shirai, T. Kondo, R. Sasaki, Y. Watanabe, Y. Miyagawa, Y. Kobayashi and M. Machida, Nagano Prefectural Saku Public Health Center, Nagano; Y. Kishimoto, E. Takara, T. Fukuyama, M. Kinjo, M. Irei, and H. Sakiyama, Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Public Health Center, Okinawa; K. Imoto, H. Yazawa, T. Seo, A. Seiko, F. Ito, F. Shoji and R. Saito, Katsushika Public Health Center, Tokyo; A. Murata, K. Minato, K. Motegi, T. Fujieda and S. Yamato, Ibaraki Prefectural Mito Public Health Center, Ibaraki; K. Matsui, T. Abe, M. Katagiri, and M. Suzuki, Niigata Prefectural Kashiwazaki and Nagaoka Public Health Center, Niigata; M. Doi, A. Terao, Y. Ishikawa, and T. Tagami, Kochi Prefectural Chuo-higashi Public Health Center, Kochi; H. Sueta, H. Doi, M. Urata, N. Okamoto, and F. Ide, and H. Goto, Nagasaki Prefectural Kamigoto Public Health Center, Nagasaki; H. Sakiyama, N. Onga, H. Takaesu, and M. Uehara, Okinawa Prefectural Miyako Public Health Center, Okinawa; F. Horii, I. Asano, H. Yamaguchi, K. Aoki, S. Maruyama, M. Ichii, and M. Takano, Osaka Prefectural Suita Public Health Center, Osaka; Y. Tsubono, Tohoku University, Miyagi; K. Suzuki, Research Institute for Brain and Blood Vessels Akita, Akita; Y. Honda, K. Yamagishi, S. Sakurai and N. Tsuchiya, Tsukuba University, Ibaraki; M. Kabuto, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki; M. Yamaguchi, Y. Matsumura, S. Sasaki, and S. Watanabe, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, Tokyo; M. Akabane, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo; T. Kadowaki, Tokyo University, Tokyo; M. Noda and T. Mizoue, International Medical Center of Japan, Tokyo; Y. Kawaguchi, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo; Y. Takashima and Y. Yoshida, Kyorin University, Tokyo; K. Nakamura, Niigata University, Niigata; S. Matsushima and S. Natsukawa, Saku General Hospital, Nagano; H. Shimizu, Sakihae Institute, Gifu; H. Sugimura, Hamamatsu University, Shizuoka; S. Tominaga, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Aichi; H. Iso, Osaka University, Osaka; M. Iida, W. Ajiki, and A. Ioka, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Disease, Osaka; S. Sato, Chiba Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Chiba; E. Maruyama, Kobe University, Hyogo; M. Konishi, K. Okada, and I. Saito, Ehime University, Ehime; N. Yasuda, Kochi University, Kochi; S. Kono, Kyushu University, Fukuoka.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Michikawa, T., Inoue, M., Shimazu, T. et al. Green tea and coffee consumption and its association with thyroid cancer risk: a population-based cohort study in Japan. Cancer Causes Control 22, 985–993 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9771-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9771-2

Keywords

Profiles

  1. Takehiro Michikawa View author profile
  2. Taichi Shimazu View author profile