Caffeine is the most extensively ingested psychoactive substance worldwide, and coffee is one of the most popular drinks.
However, studies on the relationship between coffee and health continue even after decades of research.
Moderate coffee consumption may be associated with a lower risk of liver disease, cardiovascular disease, certain malignancies, and neurological diseases.
However, coffee has also been linked to certain types of cancer as well as the use and abuse of other drugs. It is a complicated scenario that probably involves a person’s drinking habits, heredity, and a host of other variables.
“Addressing the full spectrum of coffee’s correlations with health and disease is therefore an important but challenging task,” the authors of the recently published paper wrote.
Coffee’s health benefits
The investigators discovered evidence of a genetic predisposition to coffee drinking in both datasets, as was to be expected.
Additionally, Thorpe told the news, “We were able to confidently identify specific genes that influenced coffee consumption, including some that influence how quickly caffeine is metabolized.”
The researchers found a favorable correlation between coffee intake and health outcomes, such as substance abuse and obesity, in both the U.K. and U.S. datasets.
Without any involvement in the study, they spoke with Michael Foti, PhD, an assistant professor of internal medicine at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York. The statement “this study found that certain genes were found consistently among enough participants to say the two may be linked” was used to explain the “positive association” between coffee and obesity.
Thorpe concurred, saying that “there was a positive overlap between the genetics of obesity and related traits and the genetics of coffee intake.” Notably, she said, “This does not mean that coffee intake promotes obesity.” Instead, it indicates that the genetic variations among people that affect coffee consumption also affect obesity.
“The development of obesity is multifactorial and unlikely the product of genetics alone,” notes Foti, adding an essential disclaimer.
The impact of coffee on mental health
The findings were less certain when the researchers examined mental illnesses. Thorpe clarifies, saying, “Take a look at the genetics of bipolar disorder and sadness, or anxiety: They are often positively genetically linked with coffee intake genetics in the 23andMe data set. However, the U.K. Biobank exhibits the reverse tendency, with a negative genetic correlation. We did not anticipate this.
The way the surveys inquired about coffee consumption may be one of the causes of this disparity.
“How many 5-ounce (cup-sized) servings of caffeinated coffee do you consume each day?” was the question posed in the 23andMe survey. However, one question on the U.K. Biobank form is,
“How many cups of coffee do you drink each day? (Also include coffee with no caffeine.)
Furthermore, the questionnaires did not record the method of coffee consumption. For example, instant coffee is more popular in the United Kingdom than ground coffee and sugar-filled frappuccinos are more popular in the United States.
In other words, even if two people share the same genes for coffee intake, their drinking patterns may change depending on whether they were born in the United States or the United Kingdom. Our surroundings can strongly influence our behavior in addition to our genetic makeup.
