To drink or not to drink? Coffee revealed to both aid and harm health

15 May 2020 --- New research is presenting a mixed picture of the health credentials of coffee. While a UK study from Anglia Ruskin University linked higher coffee consumption to lower body fat for women, researchers from the University of South Australia (UniSA) discovered that too much coffee can increase the risk of osteoarthritis, arthropathy (joint disease) and obesity. Meanwhile, a further study found that Usana’s CopaPrime+ nootropic – which includes coffee fruit extract – supports three different cognitive measures.

Coffee has become a staple drink in numerous countries around the world, with around 7 million tons being consumed globally every year. With many people drinking multiple cups throughout the day, it is of critical importance that its effects on health are fully understood.

This has led to action within industry, including last month when The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) rejected the claimed effect put forward by German coffee retailer Tchibo that consuming an Arabica roast coffee blend could reduce DNA damage occurring in white blood cells. In December, CoffeeFruit Pure – an upcycled antioxidant developed from recycling the fruit surrounding the coffee bean – was found to contain high levels of antioxidant activity, including polyphenols and chlorogenic acid.

Coffee’s anti-obesity potential
The first of the studies found that women who drink two or three cups of coffee a day have lower total body and abdominal fat than those who drink less.

“Our research suggests that there may be bioactive compounds in coffee other than caffeine that regulate weight and which could potentially be used as anti-obesity compounds. It could be that coffee, or its effective ingredients, could be integrated into a healthy diet strategy to reduce the burden of chronic conditions related to the obesity epidemic,” says Dr. Lee Smith, Reader in Public Health at Anglia Ruskin University and senior author of the study.

Published in The Journal of Nutrition, the study included data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, organized by the US Center for Disease Control (CDC). The researchers examined the relationship between cups of coffee drunk per day and both total body fat percentage and abdominal or “trunk” fat (adiposity).

Women aged 20 to 44 who drank two or three cups of coffee per day had the lowest levels of adiposity, 3.4 percent lower than people who did not consume coffee. Among women aged between 45 and 69, those who drank four or more cups had an adiposity percentage 4.1 percent lower. Overall, the average total body fat percentage was 2.8 percent lower among women of all ages who drank two or three cups of coffee per day.

In men, the relationship was less significant, although men aged 20 to 44 who drank two or three cups per day had 1.3 percent less total fat and 1.8 percent less trunk fat than those who did not consume coffee.

However, Dr. Smith flags that it is important to interpret the findings of this study in light of its limitations. “The study was at a specific point in time so trends cannot be established. However, we don’t believe that someone’s weight is likely to influence their coffee consumption.”

A mixed picture of the health credentials of coffee may shift consumer perspectives of the beloved hot beverage.Big coffee intake linked to disease 
In a blow to many coffee drinkers, the UniSA’s Australian Centre for Precision Health revealed that that the beverage may not be such a good option, if consumed in large quantities, for some people. The researchers used a genetic approach called MR-PheWAS analysis to establish the effects of coffee consumption against 1117 clinical conditions. The study also involved data from over 300,000 participants in the UK Biobank to examine the connections between genetically instrumented habitual coffee consumption and a full range of diseases.

“Typically, the effects of coffee consumption are investigated using an observational approach, where comparisons are made against non-coffee-drinkers. However, this can deliver misleading results. Reassuringly, our results suggest that moderate coffee drinking is mostly safe. Nonetheless, it also showed that habitual coffee consumption increased the risks of osteoarthritis, arthropathy and obesity, which can cause significant pain and suffering for individuals with these conditions,” says study co-author Elina Hyppönen, genetic epidemiologist and a professor at UniSA. 

She continues that the prevalence of these conditions in Australia and around the world shows how important it is to determine possible causes and influencers of these diseases. “For people with a family history of osteoarthritis or arthritis, or for those who are worried about developing these conditions, these results should act as a cautionary message. The body generally sends powerful messages with respect to coffee consumption, so it’s imperative that individuals listen to these when consuming coffee,” she states. 

Boosting cognitive function
Breaking away from the studies examining coffee as a drink, research conducted by cognitive performance expert Dr. Talitha Best of Central Queensland University found that Usana’s CopaPrime+ supports working memory and accuracy, attention speed and response time, and brain efficiency. Notably, this is within 45 minutes of the participants taking a single dose. 

“Scientifically-validated nootropics are rare and in huge demand globally,” says Dr. Rob Sinnott, Usana’s Chief Scientific Officer. “The positive results of this study are the culmination of years of hard work put in by Usana’s R&D team to formulate CopaPrime+. We set out to create a cognitive support supplement to assist in several areas of mental performance, and we’ve succeeded in doing just that.”

Forty healthy participants were enrolled in the study and randomized into a treatment or control group. Each completed a variety of tests to establish a baseline prior to taking two tablets of CopaPrime+. While performing the initial tests, images were taken of the activity in their prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain used for complex cognitive behavior and decision making. After 45 minutes, participants retook the tests with concurrent brain imaging.

“The CopaPrime+ study found participants who took the supplement had significant differences in working memory and accuracy, speed of attention and response time, and brain efficiency over those who were given the placebo. We are pleased with the results, as it reaffirms our decision to formulate CopaPrime+ with three nootropics, American ginseng, Bacopa monnieri, and coffee-fruit extract. The pilot study of acute effects will be followed by a longer intake study,” concludes Dr. Rolando Maddela, Usana’s Executive Director of Global Health Education and Nutrition Research.

Edited by Katherine Durrell