Coffee – between story and clinical studies. About coffee, cancer and gastrointestinal diseases

Abstract

Coffee has a long way from cultivation to use, and a history of thousands of years. Its qualities were initially attributed to caffeine, but research has identified multiple bioactive compounds with health effects. Clinical studies seek answers to questions related to the effects on longevity, me­­ta­­bo­lism, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neuropsy­cho­­­lo­­­gi­cal and cancer diseases. Future research is needed to recommend consumption and optimal quantity for pre­­ven­­tive or curative purposes. This article reviews issues re­la­ted to the history of coffee, its processing, chemical com­po­si­tion, relationship with gastrointestinal diseases and an­ti­car­cinogenic effects.