Karolinska Institutet researcher Susanna Larsson and colleagues investigated the potential causal effects of long term plasma caffeine concentrations on adiposity (body fat), type 2 diabetes, and major cardiovascular diseases.
Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a widely consumed psychoactive substance. The main sources of caffeine globally are coffee, tea, and soda drinks.
Considering the extensive intake of caffeine worldwide, even its small metabolic effects could have important health implications.
Caffeine has thermogenic effects and has been implicated in reducing weight, body mass index, and fat mass in short term randomized controlled trials.
Hence, a high caffeine intake might lower the risk of diseases related to adiposity, such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
“Previously published research indicates that drinking 3-5 daily cups of coffee, a rich source of caffeine, is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. An average cup of coffee contains around 70-150 mg caffeine,” Dr. Larsson and co-authors said.
“But most of the published research to date has concerned observational studies, which can’t reliably establish causal effects, because of the other potentially influential factors involved.”
“What’s more, it’s difficult to disentangle any specific effects of caffeine from the other compounds included in caffeinated drinks and foods.”
To try and overcome these issues, the study authors used Mendelian randomization to find out what effect higher blood caffeine levels have on body fat and the long term risks of type 2 diabetes and major cardiovascular diseases: coronary artery disease, stroke, heart failure, and irregular heart rhythm (atrial fibrillation).
They looked at the role of two common genetic variants of the CYP1A2 and AHR genes in nearly 10,000 people of predominantly European ancestry, who were taking part in 6 long term studies.
The CYP1A2 and AHR genes are associated…
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