Relationship of coffee consumption with colonic diverticulosis

Diverticulosis is the most common benign pathology of the colon. Genetics, inflammation, neuromuscular abnormalities, colonic motility and lifestyle including dietary habits play roles in disease pathogenesis. Coffee is one of the most commonly consumed beverages worldwide and exerts antiinflammatory functions in the human body as well as affecting colonic motility and neuromuscular physiology of the gastrointestinal system. Therefore, this study was planned to investigate the relationship between coffee consumption and diverticulosis.

A total of 1669 patients undergoing colonoscopy was enrolled in this cross-sectional study over a span of one year. Data from the patients was gathered through a questionnaire and matched with colonoscopy results. Coffee consumption was evaluated both as total cups of coffee consumed regardless of subtype per day and individual consumption of subtypes which were designated as instant coffee (Nescafe), Turkish coffee and brewed coffee (referred to as machine coffee in Turkey).

Overall coffee consumption regardless of subtype was not found to be related to diverticulosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed age and non-steroid antiinflammatory drug usage were risk factors for diverticulosis with odds ratios of 1.062 and 1.645 respectively. Regular exercise was found to be related with lower rates of colonic diverticulosis with an odds ratio of 0.684. Coffee consumption be it total sum or specific subtypes or caffeine intake were not found to be statistically significantly related to diverticulosis in multivariate logistic regression analysis.

This study revealed that coffee intake or caffeine intake does not increase the risk of colonic diverticulosis. Further research may explore whether different coffee types have varying effects.