Reduced Diabetes Risk with Coffee Consumption

A cup of coffee each day may help keep type 2 diabetes away…. 

According to a recent study, increasing consumption of coffee may be associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes.

In this observational study, researchers examined the effect of coffee on lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes.

Researchers evaluated and used data obtained from the following 3 prospective studies: the Brigham and Women’s Hospital-based Nurses’ Health Study; the Nurses’ Health Study 2; Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

Using food-frequency questionnaires, researchers then assessed the diets of study participants on a 4 year basis. Cases of self-reported type 2 diabetes were evaluated with additional questionnaires.

Of the over 7,269 incident cases of type 2 diabetes found, investigators found that participants who increased their coffee consumption by more than 1 cup per day, over a 4-year period, had a 11% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, when compared to those who reported no coffee consumption (median change=1.69 cups per day; CI 95%, 3% to 18%).

Further, participants who decreased their coffee intake by 1 cup a day or more (median change = -2 cups per day) had a 17% higher risk for type 2 diabetes (CI 95%, 8% to 26%).

Changes in tea consumption were not associated with type 2 diabetes risk.

Those with highest coffee consumption (more than 3 cups per day) and who maintained that consumption had the lowest risk of type 2 diabetes – 37% lower than the low coffee consumers who consumed 1 cup or less per day.

• Increased coffee consumption over a 4 year period may be associated with decreased risk of incident type 2 diabetes
• Decreasing coffee consumption is associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes in subsequent years.
• Further studies are needed to assess the mechanism behind this association and the threshold for when risks of potential side effects, such as increased blood pressure or heart rate, may of outweigh potential benefits