A new study suggests that high levels of caffeine in the blood can help people stay lean.
A study from Imperial College London concluded that the speed at which caffeine is metabolized (usable by the body) can affect weight, but more research is needed to determine whether drinking more coffee May or may not be helpful in keeping weight off.
The research surveyed nearly 10,000 people who were involved in six long-term studies. It concluded that participants with higher plasma caffeine had a lower body mass index (BMI) and a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
On the contrary, research has also shown that the rapid metabolism of caffeine can lead to a higher BMI as well as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. However, it is still unclear what proportion of the population metabolizes caffeine more rapidly.
“Ninety-five percent of your caffeine is metabolized by an enzyme,” Dr. Dipinder Gill, a clinical scientist at Imperial College London, told the PA news agency.
‘Two genes called CYP1A2 and AHR affect the function and level of this enzyme.
So, using the genetic variants that cause people to metabolize caffeine faster or slower, we found that slow metabolizers have higher plasma (blood) caffeine levels, and those with lower plasma caffeine levels. They have a higher body mass index and a lower risk of diabetes.
‘This is due to plasma caffeine.’
However, Dr. Gill does not recommend that anyone change their habits just yet. Because high-caffeine beverages, including tea and coffee, can affect sleep quality and cause an increased heart rate, he said.
“Our findings should be used to guide further research, including potential clinical studies,” he added.
This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).
A 2019 study found that caffeine consumption can decrease weight, BMI, and body fat.
In 606 participants, when caffeine intake was doubled, average weight loss and BMI and fat mass increased by 28%.
Similarly, a 2020 study conducted by researchers at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health reported that drinking four cups of coffee per day can reduce body fat by about four percent. To assess whether coffee consumption reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, they examined 126 adults who were overweight and did not use insulin.
Coffee can also increase the metabolic rate, which means the body can use up calories faster while at rest.
The higher the metabolic rate, the easier it is to lose weight, but the potentially positive effects of coffee have been seen to diminish with age.