Coffee affects oestrogen levels in different ways

David Howells

30/01/2012 12:59:38

Coffee could affect different women in different ways, nytimes.com reports.

New research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that caffeine can affect womens’ oestrogen levels, with result depending on their ethnic background.

The study of over 250 women aged between 18 and 44 found that oestrogen levels in Asian women were higher amongst those who drank two or more cups of coffee in a day. For white women, however, the oestrogen levels were lower.

Black women also saw a rise in oestrogen levels through coffee drinking, although the test group was too small for the results to be statistically significant.

The research is still in its infancy, with another study on a larger audience needed to add weight to the claims, although it is thought that Asian women wanting a child may take this as a good reason to invest in a coffee machine to boost their oestrogen levels.

If the caffeine came from sources other than coffee - such as green tea or soda - the oestrogen levels rose across the entire spectrum.

Speaking to usatoday.com of the study, Enrique Schisterman, of the Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research at the US Institute of Child Health and Human Development explained: “The results indicate that caffeine consumption among women of child-bearing age influences oestrogen levels.

He added, however, that “short term, these variations in oestrogen levels among different age groups do not appear to have any pronounced effects.”