Metabolic syndrome can apparently be effectively counteracted through regular coffee consumption. Significant benefits can be seen from three cups of coffee per day – but only with coffee containing caffeine.
A research team from Peking Union Medical College Hospital used data from the 2003-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to examine possible links between coffee consumption and metabolic syndrome. The results are published in the “European Journal of Nutrition”.
Metabolic syndrome a growing problem
Metabolic syndrome describes a condition characterized by the simultaneous occurrence of various metabolic disorders and weight problems. According to the common definition, at least three of the following factors must be met for a corresponding diagnosis:
- Excess belly fat,
- high fasting blood sugar level,
- high blood pressure (hypertension),
- high triglyceride levels,
- low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.
Those affected have a significantly increased risk of other health problems, including serious cardiovascular diseases such as a heart attack or stroke, and in recent decades metabolic syndrome has become a serious global health problem, the researchers report.
What influence does coffee have?
Although previous studies have suggested that coffee consumption could help against individual factors of metabolic syndrome such as high blood pressure or obesity, the specific effect on the complex symptoms remained unclear.
In the new study, the researchers first determined the severity of the metabolic syndrome (MetS-Z score) for 14,504 people and then checked possible connections with the consumption of coffee, decaffeinated coffee and tea.
Coffee lowers MetS-Z scores
“The results showed that drinking more than three cups of coffee daily was significantly associated with lower MetS-Z scores,” the team reports.
In addition, daily coffee consumption was also associated with a lower body mass index (BMI), lower systolic blood pressure, reduced triglyceride levels, better insulin resistance and improved HDL cholesterol levels.
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According to the researchers, however, the benefits were only noticeable with normal coffee. There was no connection with metabolic syndrome when consuming decaffeinated coffee and tea.
Benefits of coffee consumption
Overall, regular coffee consumption appears to counteract metabolic syndrome on several levels, with significant health benefits that also include a reduced risk of various other diseases. (fp)
