Coffee Drinking Habits Driven by Genetics

A new meta-analysis has found genetic reasons as to why caffeine has different effects on different people. Previously, scientists thought there to be a genetic mechanism behind individual responses to caffeine. However, identifying the specific gene variants that are responsible for the differences in responses has been difficult. In 2006, researchers conducted a study that examined how the different genetic profiles of coffee drinkers may influence whether drinking lots of coffee is good of bad for the individuals health.

Today, the same researchers that were involved in that study discovered that people carrying a version of the gene that is responsible for slow metabolism of caffeine had a 36% higher risk of heart attack of they drank up to three cups of coffee a day, compared to those carrying that gene who only drank one a day. On the other hand, those who had the version of the gene responsible for fast caffeine metabolism that drank up to three cups of coffee a day were found to have a lowered risk of heart attack.

In a new study, researchers performed a genome-wide meta-analysis of more than 120,000 regular coffee drinkers. Identified were two gene variants- POR and ABCG2- related to caffeine metabolism and two gene variants- near genes BDNF and SLC6A4- that may influence the “rewarding” effect of caffeine. Additionally, two genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism- GCKR and MLXIPL- were associated for the first time with the metabolic and neurological effects of caffeine.

Marilyn Cornelis, a research associate in the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Heath described the study’s results:

“ Coffee and caffeine have been linked to beneficial and adverse health effects. Our findings may allow is to identify subgroups of people most likely to benefit from increasing or decreasing coffee consumption for optimal health. The new candidate genes are not the ones we have focused on in the past, so this is an important step forward in coffee research.”

This study suggests that coffee intake is “naturally modulated” by individuals in order to experience the optimal effects of the caffeine.  As an avid coffee drinker, I find this newfound information to be very interesting. Before reading this article, I had no idea that gene variants that influenced the effects of caffeine existed. Overall, I find it remarkable that individuals are able to effortlessly adjust in order to get the most out of the caffeine they consume and in order to keep themselves in optimum health.

Article Link: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/283515.php