The results will delight coffee drinkers
New research suggests caffeine may reduce body fat and risk of type 2 diabetes. The findings may lead to the use of calorie-free caffeinated beverages to reduce obesity and type 2 diabetes, but more research is needed.
Studies show that high blood levels of caffeine can reduce body fat and reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. The findings could lead to the use of calorie-free caffeinated beverages to reduce obesity and type 2 diabetes, The Guardian writes, although further research is needed, researchers note in the BMJ Medicine journal.
Dr Katarina Kos, Senior Lecturer in Diabetes and Obesity at the University of Exeter, says the study showed potential health benefits for people with high blood levels of caffeine, but added: “It does not study or recommend drinking more coffee, which was not the intention.” of this study”.
She said that any caffeinated drinks that contain sugar and fat will negate the positive effect.
The researchers said their work builds on previously published studies that have shown that daily consumption of three to five cups of coffee, containing an average of 70-150 mg of caffeine, is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
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Because these were observational studies, the researchers said, they made it difficult to accurately determine whether the effects were due to caffeine or other compounds.
This latest study used a technique known as Mendelian randomization, which establishes cause and effect through genetic evidence. The team discovered two common gene variants associated with the rate of caffeine metabolism and used them to determine genetically predicted caffeine blood levels and whether this is associated with reduced BMI and body fat.
People who carry the genetic variants associated with slower caffeine metabolism drink less coffee on average, but still have higher blood levels of caffeine than fast metabolizers.
The researchers found that almost half of the reduction in type 2 diabetes risk was due to weight loss. Caffeine is known to speed up metabolism, increase fat burning, and reduce appetite, with a daily intake of 100mg estimated to increase energy expenditure by about 100 calories per day.
There are limitations to the study's results, including that the study was based on nearly 10,000 people of predominantly European descent who participated in six long-term studies.
Dr. Stephen Lawrence, Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Warwick School of Medicine, said the study was «interesting»; and used «good science» but noted that Mendelian estimation was a «relatively new technique» and, while useful, is “vulnerable to bias”.
The expert notes that this could lead to future research that could eventually develop promising treatments. “This is the good science of forming hypotheses or ideas. However, this does not prove a causal relationship. So we need to be careful not to rush to overinterpret it”.
The authors took a 'great leap of faith' by suggesting that weight loss caused by increased caffeine intake would reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, says Dr. Lawrence, adding that it was no more effective than reducing calorie intake and increasing physical activity. In addition, caffeine consumption caused palpitations and irregular heart rhythms in some people, so it was not suitable for everyone.
Stephen Lawrence notes: “Should people drink more coffee to reduce their risk of obesity or diabetes? Science offers relatively strong evidence that caffeine intake increases fat burning, even at rest. However, it is not a treatment for obesity and, if used incorrectly, can lead to weight gain or even harm.