Can regular and decaffeinated coffee help Metalbolic Syndrome (MetS)?

Recent research published in the European Journal of Nutrition by He Zhao, Shuolin Wang, Yingdong Han, Menghui Yao, Yun Zhang, and Xuejun Zeng explores the potential protective effects of coffee consumption against MetS, leveraging data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003 to 2018.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic disorders including increased blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels.

What was the study?

This study aimed to assess the relationship between coffee consumption and the risk and severity of MetS and more specifically to explore how regular coffee, decaffeinated coffee and tea consumption relate to the severity of MetS.

To do this, the researchers used data from 14,504 participants from the NHANES database.

The severity of MetS was assessed using the MetS z-score, which takes into account various metabolic parameters.

Weighted linear regression models were used to analyse the relationships between beverage consumption and MetS z-scores and then articipants were divided into MetS and non-MetS groups.

What were the results of the study?

The researchers concluded that drinking more than three cups of coffee daily was significantly associated with lower MetS z-scores (p < 0.001), indicating a lower severity of MetS.

Regular coffee consumption was linked to lower body mass index, lower systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), lower insulin resistance, lower triglyceride levels  and higher HDL cholesterol.

Neither decaffeinated coffee nor tea consumption showed a significant relationship with MetS severity.

So, the findings from this study suggest several important implications for individuals at risk of or currently managing MetS:

1. Moderate to High Coffee Intake: Consuming more than three cups of coffee daily may reduce the severity of MetS by improving several metabolic parameters, including BMI, blood pressure, insulin resistance and lipid profiles.
2. Decaffeinated Coffee and Tea: The lack of significant associations with MetS severity for decaffeinated coffee and tea indicates that caffeine might play a crucial role in the beneficial effects of coffee.
3. Dietary Recommendations: Incorporating coffee into a balanced diet could be a practical strategy for reducing the risk and severity of MetS, especially for those who enjoy this beverage.

Note: This information is intended to support, not replace, discussions with your doctor or healthcare professionals. Always consult with your healthcare provider for personalized medical advice and treatment plans.