Researchers Find Benefits, Effects of Coffee Vary by Gender

By CNCA on Oct 11 2011 | Comments | |

fresh Espresso coffee pouring into cup

Americans love their coffee, but it appears coffee doesn’t love us equally—or at least in the same way-- depending on your gender. While you might expect there to be differences in how coffee affects men versus women, some might surprise you.

Here’s what research tells us about the benefits (or downsides) of coffee, by gender:

Women

A study by psychologists at Bristol University found drinking caffeinated coffee boosts a woman’s performance in stressful situations but has the opposite effect on men. It seems to enhance a woman’s confidence and social functioning.
Another study found that women who drank two to three cups of coffee a day were 15 percent less likely to develop depression than those who drank one cup of coffee or less per week.
A Swedish study found that coffee may provide a protective effect for a particular type of breast cancer called antiestrogen-resistant estrogen-receptor or (ER)-negative breast cancer.

Men

Coffee seems to protect men, but not women against Parkinson’s disease. One possible explanation for the sex difference may be that estrogen and caffeine need the same enzymes to be metabolized, and estrogen captures those enzymes.
British researchers found the men’s ability to perform well under stress was ‘greatly impaired’ if they had drank too much caffeinated coffee—especially in group situations. The researchers believe that the difference is due to the more aggressive nature of men’s “fight or flight” response.
Harvard researchers who followed nearly 50,000 men for 20 years found that those who drank the most coffee—six or more cups a day of regular or decaf—were 60 percent less likely to develop advanced prostate cancer than guys who didn’t drink any brew. That figure dropped to 30 percent for men who drank one to three cups per day.
A Finnish study of middle aged men found that heavy coffee drinkers had a decreased risk of depression compared to non-drinkers. No such association was found among tea drinkers. Other studies have found that coffee can heighten anxiety in men more so than women who tend to have increased feelings of confidence and self-esteem from drinking coffee.

Equal Opportunity Actions and Benefits

Coffee drinking in moderation has been linked to many health benefits in both men and women, including:

Decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, gallstones, and dementia including Alzheimer’s disease.
Fewer cases of certain cancers (colon and liver), heart rhythm problems and strokes

Researchers believe some of these benefits are conveyed through the antioxidant properties of coffee as well as other nutrients including the minerals magnesium and chromium.

As for potential down-sides to coffee consumption, two substances in coffee — kahweol and cafestol — raise cholesterol levels. Paper filters capture these substances, but that doesn’t help the many people who now drink non-filtered coffee drinks, such as lattes.

More than four cups of coffee a day can also lead to some unpleasant effects including: