- Researchers from Harvard University used data from more than 20 years
- They also found people who reduced their coffee drinking had a higher risk
- Dr Frank Hu said benefits can be achieved in a relatively short time period
19:00 EST, 24 April 2014
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19:00 EST, 24 April 2014
Full of beans: Increasing coffee intake could cut the risk of diabetes, a study has found (file photo)
Drinking more coffee may further reduce the risk of diabetes, say researchers.
Increasing consumption by one and a half cups a day cuts the chances of developing type 2 diabetes by 11 per cent.
Although previous research suggested
coffee drinkers benefit from a reduced risk of diabetes, it now appears
an individual’s risk can be further improved by stepping up consumption.
Dr Frank Hu and Dr Shilpa Bhupathiraju, from the Department of Nutrition at Harvard University’s School of Public Health, looked at the link between changes in coffee consumption and diabetes risk.
They used data from three US-based studies including the Nurses’ Health Study with participants ranging from 25 to 75 years.
Detailed information on diet,
lifestyle, medical conditions, and other chronic diseases was collected
every two to four years for over 20 years.
Participants whose coffee intake fell by one or two cups a day had a 17 per cent higher risk for type 2 diabetes.
Changes in tea consumption were not associated with type 2 diabetes risk, but few people changed their drinking habits.
Those with highest consumption of three cups of coffee a day or more had the lowest diabetes risk. It was a third lower than for those drinking one cup or fewer a day.
The research was published in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes).
Fancy a cuppa? Those with highest consumption of three cups a day or more had the lowest diabetes risk
The authors said the higher risk of
type 2 diabetes from decreasing coffee intake may be a true change in
risk, or may reflect people giving it up because they develop medical
conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease or cancer.
However, even when cases of cardiovascular disease or cancer were excluded, the results were very similar.
One researcher said there was ‘novel evidence that changes in habits are related to diabetes risk’
Although
there was a lower risk of diabetes among decaffeinated coffee drinkers,
increasing or decreasing consumption made no difference to the risk.
Dr Hu said: ‘Changes in consumption habits appear to affect diabetes risk in a relatively short amount of time. Our findings…provide novel evidence that changes in habits are related to diabetes risk.’
Studies on decaffeinated coffee have made similar findings with the protective effect due to ‘direct biological effects’ such as antioxidants and magnesium.
Because of the benefits from decaffeinated coffee, it is unlikely caffeine is solely responsible for the effect.
A European investigation into the effects of diet and lifestyle on health last year found moderate coffee drinking lowered the risk of diabetes by around 30 per cent.
Dr Richard Elliott, Research Communications Officer at Diabetes UK, said ‘While this study found evidence of a connection between how much coffee you drink and your risk of Type 2 diabetes, this does not mean that increasing your coffee intake will reduce your diabetes risk.
‘Even if people who drank more coffee did tend to have a lower risk of Type 2, it does not necessarily follow that coffee consumption was directly responsible.
‘Other factors that this study has not identified could also be involved and it is even possible that being at high risk of Type 2 diabetes encourages people to reduce their coffee intake.
‘What we do know is that the best way to reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes is to maintain a healthy weight by eating a healthy, balanced diet and by being regularly physically active.’
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The comments below have not been moderated.
thomasm1964,
No Point, Afghanistan,
21 minutes ago
And, when you are a dibetic, you are told to avoid coffee because it raises your blood sugars – the very definition of what diabetes is!
Naomi,
Britain,
1 hour ago
Well I drink about 3 cups a day and have just been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Hmmmm……
Pink Piggy,
Where the Jumblies live., United Kingdom,
24 minutes ago
ak0,
London, United Kingdom,
2 hours ago
11% what does that even mean?
Dr Paul Nathan,
Oxford University, United Kingdom,
3 hours ago
The mail said that coffee was bad for me last week. What is it?
Pink Piggy,
Where the Jumblies live., United Kingdom,
22 minutes ago
Brinneh,
Maidenhead, United Kingdom,
3 hours ago
My dad drinks coffee a lot and is diabetic.
Dr Paul Nathan,
Oxford University, United Kingdom,
3 hours ago
Im,
Cambridge, United Kingdom,
4 hours ago
I must go and see a doctor straight away, I have clearly been dead for the last 30 years taking my diet and drinking habits into account. Minimum 12 mugs strong coffee with milk (not low fat) and sugar every day, only eat fresh fruit if I grow it, all the red meat, chocolate, red wine and gin (not the same glass), I once smoked up to 60 a day and still enjoy life to the full in my 60s.
reptile,
Thames Delta North, United Kingdom,
4 hours ago
And do you eat custard; well, that explains it.
Meadycroft,
Bath, United Kingdom,
5 hours ago
Hmmm… I have a sugar in coffee but not in tea. Doubt that works for me!
mandydub,
dublin,
5 hours ago
Anyone who takes the DM health advise seriously should probably seek medical attention as a matter of urgency
Diane,
London,
5 hours ago
So I gave up coffee last September (on the back of various reports and wanting to reduce my caffeine intake)… worked a treat. Every now and then I make a brew when I read of its life affirming qualities… but now find it so bitter that I can’t stomach it … I give up. Sticking to tea from now on …
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