Coffee consumption lowers diabetes risk

The cup of coffee that helps millions of people get started in the morning, and several more cups throughout the day, may reduce the risk of diabetes. Dutch researchers report that higher consumption of coffee could be linked with a lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes. Coffee is a major source of caffeine, which is known to reduce sensitivity to insulin. Researchers at the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Netherlands looked at the effect of different degrees of coffee intake on the development of type-2 diabetes in a population-based study of 17, 111 Dutch men and women aged 30-60 years. The participants were randomly chosen from the Doetinchem and Maastricht regions. The researchers first looked at the Doetinchem participants between 1987 and 1991, gathering follow-up information between 1993 and 2000. The Maastricht group were studied between 1987 and 1997, with follow-up information gathered in 1998. The participants drank an average of 5.2 cups of coffee a day. The researchers noted that higher coffee consumption was most associated with men as well as low education level, a higher body-mass index, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, less leisure time physical activity, and a generally less favourable diet. 306 new cases of type-2 diabetes were reported during the follow-up studies. Higher coffee consumption was linked to a lower risk of developing diabetes, even when compounding factors such as smoking and weight were taken into account. The drinking of tea was lower in the group studied and was not associated with diabetes risk. They found that those who drank at least seven cups of coffee a day were 50 per cent less likely to develop the condition than those who drank two cups or fewer. In view of the widespread use of coffee and the large health burden of type 2 diabetes, it could have important public health implications. The possible negative effects of high caffeine consumption should be taken into account. These findings need to be replicated and possible adverse effects on other health aspects should be considered in the choice to consume coffee.