High caffeine intake can lower body fat levels and reduce the risk of developing diabetes, according to a new study.
on a research paper published Tuesday in the scientific journal BMJ Medicinehealth experts from Sweden, Denmark and the UK outline the results of their analysis of how caffeine consumption affects body weight, heart health and diabetes risk.
The research team used Mendelian randomization—a method of establishing cause and effect by looking at genetic evidence—to calculate the predicted levels of caffeine in the blood of about 10,000 participants and examine whether they were linked. of BMI, body fat and type 2 diabetes.
They found that a high concentration of caffeine in the blood was associated with a low body mass index (BMI), the measure used to calculate whether a person has a healthy weight, and low levels of body fat in general. -an.
Caffeine used to be associated with improve metabolism and burn fat.
Higher levels of caffeine were also associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, the study found. The authors of the study noted that almost half of the lower risk of diabetes was obtained from the apparent decrease in BMI due to caffeine.
People who are overweight and have a high BMI are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
No strong association was found in the study between caffeine intake and risk of heart disease, heart failure or stroke.
The authors of the study said that their paper built on existing studies, one of which found an association between drinking between three and five cups of caffeinated coffee a day and a reduction in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, with each cup showing a reduction in diabetes. risk of 7%. However, they note that the nature of these observational studies means—unlike research using their Mendelian technique—they cannot reliably conclude that caffeine is the cause of reduced health risks.
While the authors of the study said that they found “found evidence to support causal associations of higher plasma caffeine concentrations with lower levels. [obesity levels] and risk of type 2 diabetes,” they said, adding that more trials are needed to examine whether calorie-free caffeinated beverages may play a role in reducing the risk of developing it.
The study was limited by the fact that the participants were mostly of European descent. African Americans, Hispanic and Latino people and some Pacific Islanders have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Early research
Previous studies on the health implications of caffeine consumption have produced mixed results.
In 2018Swedish scientists found that drinking coffee reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, while a study published last year showed that drinking up to three cups of coffee a day had a protective effect on heart health.
However, research published in 2020 found that substances found in unfiltered coffee increase “bad” cholesterol, while links There is also a link between caffeine consumption and anxiety and sleep disorders.
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