From the Guidelines
Caffeine consumption does not have a significant effect on the development of breast nodules, and there is no convincing evidence to support a direct relationship between caffeine intake and breast pain or nodules. According to the most recent and highest quality study, 1, there is no convincing scientific evidence that eliminating or reducing caffeine intake has any significant effect on breast pain, despite widespread belief to the contrary. The etiology of breast pain is multifactorial, and several possible causes have been studied, including hormonal medications, psychological factors, and disorders of lipid metabolism or fatty acid levels.
Some studies have suggested that caffeine may heighten symptoms of fibrocystic breast lumps in some women, but there is no evidence that it increases the risk of breast cancer or other types of cancer, as stated in 1. However, individual responses to caffeine vary significantly, and many women consume caffeine without developing breast nodules.
Key points to consider:
- Breast pain can be associated with diffuse palpable nodularity, but there is no relationship between the extent of nodularity and the severity of pain.
- Women with large breasts often have noncyclical pain simply related to the size of their breasts, which may also be associated with neck, shoulder, and back pain.
- If you have concerning breast nodules, it's essential to consult with a healthcare provider for proper evaluation, regardless of your caffeine consumption, as most breast nodules are benign but should be professionally assessed. Dietary changes alone should not replace medical evaluation of breast changes.
From the Research
Correlation Between Caffeine Consumption and Breast Nodules
- There is no direct evidence to suggest that caffeine consumption causes breast nodules 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- A study on the clinical value of ultrasound-guided minimally invasive biopsy in the diagnosis or treatment of breast nodules did not investigate the correlation between caffeine consumption and breast nodules 2.
- Research on the safety of ingested caffeine and its effects on behavior and physiology did not find a link between caffeine consumption and breast nodules 3, 5.
- A meta-analysis on coffee and caffeine intake and breast cancer risk found no significant association between breast cancer risk and coffee, decaffeinated coffee, or caffeine intake 4.
- A study on the associations of coffee consumption and caffeine intake with mammographic breast density found that decaffeinated coffee was positively associated with percent breast density in premenopausal women, while decaffeinated and total coffee were inversely associated with percent breast density in postmenopausal women 6.
- However, none of the studies directly investigated the correlation between caffeine consumption and the development of breast nodules, suggesting that more research is needed to determine if there is a link between the two 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Key Findings
- No significant association was found between breast cancer risk and coffee, decaffeinated coffee, or caffeine intake 4.
- Decaffeinated coffee was positively associated with percent breast density in premenopausal women, while decaffeinated and total coffee were inversely associated with percent breast density in postmenopausal women 6.
- The current evidence does not support a correlation between caffeine consumption and the development of breast nodules, but more research is needed to confirm this finding 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.