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Only last week, a study claimed two cups of coffee a day could halve the risk of breast cancer returning by boosting the effect of the anti-tumour drug tamoxifen.

In the latest probe by experts at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, nearly 45,000 men aged 45 to 79 were studied over a 12 year period to see how many developed localised, advanced or fatal prostate cancer.

Researchers collected details of dietary habits, including coffee consumption, and found that for men downing six cups or more a day, the chances of falling victim to localised prostate cancer dropped by 19 per cent.

Those on four to five cups a day saw their risk drop by about seven per cent but there was no benefit from anything less than four cups a day.

Scientists found it helped to ward off localised cancer - the slow-growing types that are mainly confined to the prostate - but had less effect on more aggressive forms of the disease

Researchers said men who were obese or overweight were most likely to ward off cancer.

The reasons are not clear but one theory is that coffee may boost the body's levels of a protein called adiponectin, which has been shown to have powerful anti-cancer properties that stop malignant cells from flourishing.

Obese people tend to have lower levels of adiponectin circulating in their bloodstream.

In a report on their findings the researchers said: 'Increased adiponectin levels due to coffee consumption may be more beneficial to overweight and obese men.

'Our results are potentially important from a public health point of view.

'But the evidence is still too limited to recommend men increase coffee consumption in order to lower their prostate cancer risk.'