Numerous studies have shown benefits for coffee consumption from protecting the against diseases of the heart, brain, and diabetes. It has been thought, not proven, that this benefit was due to the caffeine in coffee, but a new study proves otherwise when it comes to diabetes protection.
Prior studies had looked at coffee consumption in men and women and found that it lowered diabetes risk when consumed in amounts greater than 3 cups per day. The effect was not across the board and more fit men and women were at a greater likelihood to benefit. But was it the caffeine that provided the benefit, or was it the antioxidants, or some other compound? No one was sure.
Researchers in Minnesota looked into these questions. They used data from the Iowa Women's Health Study to determine if coffee intake lowered diabetes risk in relation to age, weight, and caffeine content. Women were divided into groups depending on intake ranging from none to more than 6 cups a day. All women with previous diabetes or heart disease history were exlcluded from the study.
Overall rates of diabetes were low, only about 5%. However, women who drank more than 6 cups per day had 22% lower risk than women who drank no coffee at all. This relationship held strong for women of different ages and body weight. Then when researchers looked into the effect of caffeine versus decaf, they found that the reduction in risk was due primarily to decaf coffee intake and not the caffeinated coffee.
They were unable to determine which compounds in coffee may be responsible for the effect. Other caffeineated beverages did not have any relationship to diabetes risk.
The authors would not go and state that decaf coffee should be a means of reducing risk, and state that diet and exercise are still top of the list when it comes to protecting oneself against diabetes, but having a little decaf coffee may not be the worst thing.
Many coffee drinkers will scoff at the idea of decaf coffee, stating what's the purpose? Well now we have one.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on July 11, 2006 04:08 PM
