Coffee consumption is linked to various known benefits, such as reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. A new investigation adds potential advantages, including improved metabolism and healthier body composition.
The research was based on the analysis of data from 2,264 Finnish individuals, all aged 46. Finland is recognized as the country with the highest per capita coffee consumption in the world, averaging 12 kg per year. Experts consider these findings particularly relevant due to the strong integration of the beverage into Finnish culture and routine.
It is important to emphasize that the results point to a correlation, and do not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship. As an observational study that examined data from thousands of people, it provides strong scientific indications but does not prove causality, since other factors may influence the situation besides coffee.
Among the participants, those who consumed coffee showed, on average, a lower percentage of body fat and greater skeletal muscle mass. This pattern was maintained even when the comparison was restricted to individuals with similar Body Mass Indices (BMI).
The heaviest coffee consumers within the studied group also exhibited lower concentrations of branched-chain amino acids. These molecules are related to both insulin resistance and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
The most notable differences were observed in hormone levels. In men, higher coffee consumption correlated with higher levels of testosterone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), a protein that regulates the availability of free and active hormones in the body. However, circulating free testosterone, which accounts for 2% to 3% of the total hormone, was lower in these individuals.
Regarding women, the modifications were less pronounced. Higher coffee consumption was primarily associated with higher levels of SHBG and reduced levels of active and free testosterone in the blood.
Luca Verroest, the study's author, commented to ScienceDaily that 'what stood out in our findings was a distinct hormonal signature that persisted even after considering BMI and lifestyle-related factors, with several of these associations differing between men and women.' For the scientific community, these findings serve as a starting point for future investigations seeking to confirm whether coffee truly induces such biological changes, given that most current studies use animal models before advancing to human testing.