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A recent article from Science Daily describes a possible genetic link to how much caffeine a person consumes. Two genes were identified in the human genome of over 47,000 individuals which correspond with variations in caffeine intake. The genes, CYP1A2 (Cytochrome P450 1A2) and AHR, have been previously linked to the metabolism of caffeine in the body. The genetic variation showed caffeine-consuming genotypes with a range of about 1/3 cup of coffee (the lowest) to about 40 mg more daily. This study is relevant because it is one of the first to describe a relationship between genetics and caffeine intake, an activity in which (the article states) about 90% of adults partake. Caffeine has numerous effects on the body physiologically, including sleep patterns, mental and physical performance, etc. Further study into this link could provide more information about how caffeine really functions in our bodies, and seeing as it is a substance which is consumed by the majority of our country (and other places) it may be useful to know more about it. Also, this study opens the door to utilize similar research techniques to answer questions about other lifestyle behaviors in the future.
For the research article from PLoS Genetics: http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pgen.1002033
I find this interesting that your caffeine intake has something to do with your genetic makeup. People who drink a lot of coffee have issues with sleep as well as physical and emotional issues that effect their lifestyles. By finding out the amount they consume has something to do with their genes hopefully they can further help people with the issues that come along with caffeine consumption. It is good that with this study they will be able to do research on other lifestyle and dietary behaviors.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting article. I did not know that there could be a coffee consumption gene. But, it is interesting because I always thought that high coffee consumption always depended on being immune to the effect of coffee after drinking it so much. As one keeps drinking coffee, the effects are felt even less until you have to drink more and more of it. That is what I always thought made you drink more, not so much your genes.
ReplyDeleteI agree with vianaj. I, like my mother, drink coffee every morning. My half-sister (we have different fathers), however, never drinks coffee, probably because she just never started. I do tend to drink more coffee then my coffee-consuming friends, however. I am sure that genetics plays a small role in how much you consume, but I believe it is mostly the habits you form that will determine how much you consume. Also, although caffeine is a stimulant and can be harmful if too much is consumed, I have heard about studies that show it has some benefits when consumed in smaller quantities (12 oz a day or less).
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