Could Coffee Reduce the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes?
Drinking 3 to 4 cups of coffee per day decreases your chances of developing type 2 diabetes, according to recent research. Researchers identified 2 chemicals—cafestol and caffeic acid—found in both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, which help to increase the production of insulin.
Previous research has shown that habitual coffee consumption is associated with a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but information on whether specific substances in coffee can affect insulin production is limited.
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For their study, researchers injected rats with a variety of substances found in coffee and then measured their insulin levels. After 1 hour, cafestol increased their insulin levels by 12%, and after 72 hours, their levels increased by 16%. In addition, caffeic acid increased the rats’ insulin secretion by 34% in 1 hour and 68% in 72 hours.
Cafestol also helped increase glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells by 8%, which is similar to some common diabetes drugs. This finding will help researchers develop new medication for diabetes patients and those at risk.
“This newly demonstrated dual action of cafestol suggests that cafestol may contribute to the preventive effects on type 2 diabetes in coffee drinkers,” researchers explained.
Although the results seem promising, researchers admit that more research is needed to make any definitive conclusions.
—Amanda Balbi
Reference:
Mellbye FB, Jeppesen BP, Hermansen K, and Gregersen S. Cafestol. A bioactive substance in coffee, stimulates insulin secretion and increases glucose uptake in muscle cells: studies in vitro. J Nat Prod. 2015 Oct 23;78(10):2447-51.