Drinking caffeine may alter women’s estrogen levels, a new study says. According to researchers at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, women who drink about two cups of caffeinated coffee per day can either raise or lower their estrogen levels depending on their race.
HealthDay News reports that the study involved more than 250 women from the ages of 18 to 44. On average, the women consumed about 90 milligrams of caffeine per day between 2005 and 2007. In women who drank about 200 milligrams per day, however, different effects were seen. Asian women who consumed these amounts of caffeine saw their estrogen levels rise, while white women saw their estrogen levels fall.
Researchers noted that black women who consumed similar amounts of coffee also had higher estrogen levels, but the finding was not statistically significant.
Despite the heightened levels of estrogen, scientists did not observe changes in ovulation or the women’s menstrual cycles.
“The results indicate that caffeine consumption among women of child-bearing age influences estrogen levels,” said lead researcher Enrique Schisterman. “Short terms, these variations in estrogen levels among different groups do not appear to have any pronounced effects.”
Schisterman added that long-term effects are not known, but noted that variations in normal estrogen levels have been linked in the past to conditions like endometriosis, osteoporosis and cancer. He said future researchers should take caffeine consumption into account when studying these disorders.
