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HomeWellnessDietDo your genes control how coffee consumption affects your health?

Do your genes control how coffee consumption affects your health?

A recent study published in the British Journal of Nutrition examined the effects of regular coffee consumption on the genes related to sugar and fat metabolism.

Type 2 diabetes continues to be a considerable health issue affecting a large number of adults worldwide. Some studies have reported that people who regularly drink coffee are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. However, a direct link between coffee consumption and lower rates of type 2 diabetes has not been found. In fact, some studies found that drinking coffee after a meal led to higher blood sugar levels. This suggests that coffee may have a negative effect on glucose metabolism.

A recent British study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition,  investigated the longer-term effects of coffee drinking on glucose metabolism. A total of 27 adults participated in the study. Individuals who smoked or drank more than four servings of coffee or tea per week were not included in the study. The researchers randomly grouped the participants into either a “coffee” group or a “control” (no coffee) group. They obtained measurements of blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and insulin levels at the beginning of the study.

Those in the coffee group were given servings of instant coffee and were told to drink four per day for 12 weeks. Those in the control group were asked to avoid products with caffeine for 12 weeks. Over the course of the study, participants gave blood, saliva, and cheek swab samples for future analysis.

The study found no overall effect of coffee drinking over 12 weeks. However, the genetic analysis of DNA from the cheek swab samples found that small changes in the gene CYP1A2 determine whether a person metabolizes caffeine slowly or quickly. Compared to those with “fast” caffeine metabolism, those with “slow” caffeine metabolism had higher glucose levels both when fasting and after a meal. They also had higher levels of fatty acids in their blood, suggesting lower insulin sensitivity.

This study is the first to look at longer-term effects of coffee drinking on sugar and fat metabolism in healthy non-coffee-drinkers. Although more research is needed to understand coffee drinking and diabetes prevention, this work shows that genes do affect metabolism in response to coffee drinking.

Written by Cindi A. Hoover, Ph.D.

References:

  1. Robertson TM, Clifford MN, Penson S et al. Postprandial glycaemic and lipaemic responses to chronic coffee consumption may be modulated by CYP1A2 polymorphisms. Br J Nutr. 2018; 119:792-800
  2. http://blog.journals.cambridge.org/2018/06/12/do-your-genes-determine-whether-coffee-is-good-or-bad-for-you/
Cindi Hoover PhD
Cindi Hoover PhD
Cindi has a Ph.D. in Marine Science from the University of Delaware and a B.S. in Biology from the College of William and Mary. Her research focused on the genetics and molecular biology of corals. Cindi gained scientific writing experience through her many years of work in genomics and molecular biology laboratories. She is excited to contribute to Medical News Bulletin and to help others learn about cutting-edge scientific research. In her free time, Cindi enjoys hanging out with her family, swimming, hiking, and photography.
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