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Caffeine and alcohol intakes have no association with risk of multiple sclerosis
J Massa1,2
EJ O’Reilly1,2
KL Munger2
A Ascherio3
1Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, USA
2Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, USA
3Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, USA; Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, USA; Harvard Medical School, USA
Jennifer Massa, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Background: The association between alcohol and caffeine intakes and risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) is unclear; no prospective studies have examined this relationship.
Objective: We examined intakes of alcohol and caffeine in relation to risk of multiple sclerosis.
Methods: Intakes of alcohol and caffeine were examined in relation to the risk of MS in two large cohorts of women, the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS; 92,275 women followed from 1980 to 2004) and Nurses’ Health Study II (NHS II; 95,051 women followed from 1991 to 2005). Their diet was assessed at baseline and every four years thereafter. During the follow-up, 282 cases of MS were confirmed with onset of symptoms after baseline. Twenty-four cases were missing information on alcohol intake, leaving a total of 258 cases for the alcohol analyses.
Results: Neither total alcohol consumption, nor consumption of beer, wine, or liquor was related to MS risk. The multivariable-adjusted pooled relative risk (RR) found by comparing categories of alcohol intake to 0 gm/day was 1.07 (95% CI: 0.32–1.99) for 0.1–4.9 gm/day, 1.01 (0.32–1.99) for 5.0–14.9 gm/day, 1.21 (0.69–2.15) for 15.0–29.9 gm/day, and 0.80 (0.32–1.99) for 30+ gm/day; (p for trend=0.89). Caffeine intake was also not significantly associated with MS risk. The multivariable adjusted pooled RR comparing highest to lowest quintile of caffeine intake was 1.14; 95% CI: 0.79–1.66; p for trend=0.71. Consideration of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee separately also yielded null results.
Conclusion: These results do not support an association between alcohol and caffeine intakes and MS risk.
Caffeine and alcohol intakes have no association with risk of multiple sclerosis
J Massa1,2
EJ O’Reilly1,2
KL Munger2
A Ascherio3
1Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, USA
2Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, USA
3Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, USA; Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, USA; Harvard Medical School, USA
Jennifer Massa, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Background: The association between alcohol and caffeine intakes and risk of multiple sclerosis (MS) is unclear; no prospective studies have examined this relationship.
Objective: We examined intakes of alcohol and caffeine in relation to risk of multiple sclerosis.
Methods: Intakes of alcohol and caffeine were examined in relation to the risk of MS in two large cohorts of women, the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS; 92,275 women followed from 1980 to 2004) and Nurses’ Health Study II (NHS II; 95,051 women followed from 1991 to 2005). Their diet was assessed at baseline and every four years thereafter. During the follow-up, 282 cases of MS were confirmed with onset of symptoms after baseline. Twenty-four cases were missing information on alcohol intake, leaving a total of 258 cases for the alcohol analyses.
Results: Neither total alcohol consumption, nor consumption of beer, wine, or liquor was related to MS risk. The multivariable-adjusted pooled relative risk (RR) found by comparing categories of alcohol intake to 0 gm/day was 1.07 (95% CI: 0.32–1.99) for 0.1–4.9 gm/day, 1.01 (0.32–1.99) for 5.0–14.9 gm/day, 1.21 (0.69–2.15) for 15.0–29.9 gm/day, and 0.80 (0.32–1.99) for 30+ gm/day; (p for trend=0.89). Caffeine intake was also not significantly associated with MS risk. The multivariable adjusted pooled RR comparing highest to lowest quintile of caffeine intake was 1.14; 95% CI: 0.79–1.66; p for trend=0.71. Consideration of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee separately also yielded null results.
Conclusion: These results do not support an association between alcohol and caffeine intakes and MS risk.