It seems like every day there is a new study about the effects of caffeine and how it may harm or improve our health. A new study shows that moderate caffeine intake increases estrogen levels in Asian women, while it lowers estrogen levels in white women.

The study, published online in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition,  found that Asian women’s estrogen levels became elevated when they consumed 200 mg or more of caffeine (as much as is in about 2 cups of coffee) each day,  in comparison to women who consumed less. On the other hand, white women who consumed 200 milligrams or more of caffeine each day had slightly lower estrogen levels than women who consumed less.

Total caffeine intake was taken from coffee, black tea, green tea, and caffeinated soda consumption. The study found that having more than one cup each day of caffeinated soda or green tea was associated with a higher estrogen level in Asians, whites, and blacks. Enrique Schisterman, Ph.D., of the Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) explains the findings:

“The results indicate that caffeine consumption among women of child-bearing age influences estrogen levels…Because long term caffeine consumption has the potential to influence estrogen levels over a long period of time, it makes sense to take caffeine consumption into account when designing studies to understand these disorders…Short term, these variations in estrogen levels among different groups do not appear to have any pronounced effects. We know that variations in estrogen level are associated with such disorders as endometriosis, osteoporosis, and endometrial, breast, and ovarian cancers.”

 Carla Snuggs is a freelance writer for Endless Beauty.