Caffeine levels in the blood can affect the amount of body fat, and this factor may determine the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
These are the results of a 2023 study that used genetic markers to establish a more definitive association between caffeine levels, BMI, and type 2 diabetes risk.
A team of researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, the University of Bristol in the UK and Imperial College London in the UK say zero-calorie caffeinated drinks could be studied as a potential means of helping reduce body fat levels. said.
“Genetically predicted elevated plasma caffeine concentrations were associated with lower BMI and body fat mass,” the researchers wrote in a paper published in March 2023.
“Furthermore, genetically predicted elevated plasma caffeine concentrations were associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. About half of the effect of caffeine on susceptibility to type 2 diabetes was due to decreased BMI. It was presumed that it was mediated.”
The study included data from just under 10,000 people collected from existing genetic databases, focusing on mutations in specific genes or genes known to be associated with the rate of caffeine breakdown. I did.
In general, people with mutations that affect the gene, CYP1A2 and the gene that regulates it called AHR, tend to break down caffeine more slowly and keep it in the blood longer. However, they also tend to reduce their caffeine intake in general.
An approach called Mendelian randomization was used to determine possible causal relationships between the presence of mutations, diseases such as diabetes, weight, and lifestyle factors.
A significant association was found between caffeine concentration, BMI, and risk of type 2 diabetes, but there was a significant association between caffeine levels in the blood and cardiovascular diseases such as atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and stroke. No relationship was found.
Previous research has linked modest, relative increases in caffeine intake to improved heart health and lower BMI, and new research adds to what we already know about coffee’s effects on the body. Added more details.
It’s also important to note that caffeine’s effects on the body are not always positive. So while we should be careful when weighing the benefits of consuming caffeine, this latest study is an important step in assessing the ideal amount of caffeine to consume. .
“Small, short-term studies have shown that caffeine intake reduces body weight and fat mass, but the long-term effects of caffeine intake are unknown,” the researchers explained.
The researchers believe that the link shown here may be due to the way caffeine increases thermogenesis (thermogenesis) and fat oxidation (turning fat into energy) in the body. Both of these play important roles in overall metabolism.
However, further research is needed to confirm cause and effect. Although this study included a large sample, Mendelian randomization is not certain, and other factors not considered in this study may still be at play.
“Given the large amounts of caffeine consumed around the world, even modest effects on metabolism could have important health implications,” the researchers wrote. There is.
This research BMJ Medicine.
A previous version of this article was published in March 2023.
