Coffee or Tea? Daily 5 Cups Linked to Lower Brain Tumor Risk

Wondering whether your morning cuppa—or espresso—could protect you from a serious disease? A major UK cancer study offers a surprising answer: regularly drinking multiple cups of coffee or tea may lower your risk of developing a common and aggressive type of brain tumor.

Quick answer: Drinking at least five cups of coffee or tea per day is linked to a 40% lower risk of glioma, a brain tumor that typically starts in the brain tissue. The effect appears stronger in men, though decaf versions don’t offer the same protection.

The Study Behind the Headlines

Published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, this research comes from London’s Imperial College. Scientists investigated over 300 men and women diagnosed with glioma—an often fast-growing tumor that originates in the brain’s supportive tissues.

What the Numbers Show

When researchers compared participants’ beverage habits, they found a clear pattern: those who drank at least five cups of coffee or tea every day had a 40% reduced likelihood of having developed glioma, compared to those who drank less. That number held steady even after adjusting for other variables.

Why Caffeine Might Matter

One leading theory suggests caffeine reduces blood flow to the brain, starving potential tumors of oxygen and nutrients needed for growth. This mechanism may help explain the lower glioma rates among high-volume coffee and tea drinkers. However, the effect wasn’t seen with decaffeinated versions—pointing to caffeine specifically as the likely active agent. Interestingly, the protective effect appeared stronger in men, although researchers haven’t pinpointed why.

Coffee or Tea—Does It Matter?

The study didn’t find significant differences between coffee and tea when it came to risk reduction. What mattered was the total intake: at least five cups of either beverage daily. Both drinks contain caffeine, which seems to be the shared factor behind the observed benefit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does decaf coffee or tea protect against brain tumors too?

No. The study found that only regular coffee and tea—with caffeine—were linked to a 40% lower glioma risk. Decaf versions did not show the same protective effect, suggesting caffeine plays a key role.

How many cups of coffee or tea are we talking about?

The protective effect was observed in people who drank at least five cups of coffee or tea daily. That could be any combination—five coffees, five teas, or a mix—but the total had to reach five or more.

Why might caffeine reduce glioma risk?

Researchers hypothesize that caffeine may decrease blood flow to the brain, limiting the oxygen and nutrients available for tumor growth. This may help prevent gliomas from developing or growing larger.

Does the effect apply to both men and women equally?

Not exactly. While the 40% lower risk was seen in both genders, the protective effect appeared stronger in men. Scientists aren’t yet certain why this gender difference exists.

Is it just coffee and tea, or do other caffeinated drinks count?

The study focused solely on coffee and tea. Other caffeinated beverages like energy drinks or sodas were not included, so no conclusions can be drawn about their potential impact on glioma risk.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Coffee Lovers

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