How Coffee and Tea May Lower Brain Tumor Risk

If you’ve ever wondered whether your daily coffee or tea habit could protect you from serious illness, a major European study offers some intriguing clues—especially when it comes to brain tumors. Researchers followed hundreds of thousands of people over nearly a decade to see if their beverage choices influenced their risk of developing gliomas, a dangerous type of brain cancer.

The short answer? People who drank at least 3.5 ounces (about a small mug) of coffee or tea per day had a one-third lower risk of being diagnosed with glioma compared to those who drank less or none—though the overall risk remains low, and the link isn’t perfectly clear.

What the Study Found

The research, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, analyzed data from over 521,000 participants across ten European countries, aged 25 to 70. These individuals completed detailed questionnaires about their medical history, diet, exercise, smoking, and other lifestyle factors at the start of the study. Researchers focused on more than 410,000 participants who were cancer-free at the outset and had complete dietary records. Over an average follow-up period of 8.5 years, 343 people were diagnosed with glioma, and 245 developed meningioma, a typically benign brain tumor.

When the researchers divided participants into groups based on their coffee and tea intake, they initially found no linear “dose-response” relationship—that is, drinking more didn’t consistently show a lower glioma risk. However, a clearer pattern emerged when they compared two specific groups: those who consumed at least 3.5 ounces of coffee or tea daily versus those who drank less than that amount or none at all. The heavier drinkers had a roughly one-third lower risk of glioma, even after adjusting for factors like age and smoking history. No similar association was found for meningioma.

Why This Matters—Even If the Effect Is Small

Lead researcher Dominique Michaud, from Brown University (Providence, Rhode Island) and King’s College London, emphasized that this is early-stage research. “This study should not be a reason for anyone to change their coffee or tea consumption,” she said. She also noted that while the risk reduction is statistically meaningful, brain tumors are rare: in Europe, annual incidence rates are estimated at 4–6 cases per 100,000 women and 6–8 per 100,000 men. Over a lifetime, the chance of developing a malignant brain tumor is less than 1%.

Still, if further research confirms that higher coffee and tea intake does help prevent gliomas, it could open new avenues for understanding the causes of brain cancer. “Right now, we know very little about what causes brain cancer,” Michaud explained.

What Could Be Behind the Link?

The exact reason for the reduced glioma risk isn’t yet known, and the study relied on self-reported data, which can be imprecise. But there are plausible biological explanations. For instance, recent lab studies have shown that caffeine can slow the growth of glioblastoma, an aggressive type of glioma. Additionally, both coffee and tea are rich in antioxidants, compounds that help protect cells from damage and may lower the risk of various cancers and diseases.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much coffee or tea do I need to drink to see a potential glioma risk reduction?

The study found that drinking at least 3.5 ounces (roughly one small mug) of coffee or tea per day was associated with a one-third lower risk of glioma, compared to drinking less or none. This threshold mattered more than a gradual increase in intake.

Does this mean coffee and tea prevent brain tumors?

Not necessarily. The study shows a correlation, not proof of causation. While those drinking more coffee or tea had a lower glioma risk, other factors could be involved, and the overall risk of brain tumors remains very low.

What types of brain tumors were studied?

The research looked at gliomas (a group of usually malignant brain tumors that make up about 80% of malignant brain cancers) and meningiomas (typically benign brain tumors). The protective effect was seen only with gliomas.

Why didn’t the study find a linear relationship between intake and risk?

The researchers did not see a consistent drop in risk as coffee and tea intake increased across all levels. The clearest difference appeared when comparing people who drank at least 3.5 ounces daily with those who drank less or none.

Could self-reported data affect the results?

Yes. Since the study relied on participants reporting their own coffee and tea consumption, there may be inaccuracies. This could explain why a clear dose-response relationship wasn’t observed across all intake levels.

Are antioxidants in coffee and tea the reason for the lower risk?

Antioxidants might play a role, as they help protect cells from damage. Lab studies also suggest caffeine can slow glioblastoma growth. However, more research is needed to confirm these mechanisms in humans.

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