Cappuccino, latte or black, coffee is one of the most consumed drinks in the world. But whether it's good or bad for your health can be clarified by genetics, as a global first study from the Australian Center for Precision Health at the University of South Australia shows that excessive coffee consumption can cause ill health.
Using data from more than 300,000 participants in the UK Biobank, researchers examined links between genetically modified regular coffee consumption and a full range of diseases, finding that too much coffee can increase the risk of osteoarthritis, arthropathy (joint disease) and obesity. /P>
In previous research, conducted by Professor Hyppönen and team, six cups of coffee a day were considered the upper limit of safe consumption.
Expert genetic epidemiologist, UniSA's professor Elina Hyppönen, says that understanding the risks associated with habitual coffee intake could have very significant public health implications.
“Globally, we drink about three billion cups of coffee every day, so it makes sense to investigate the pros and cons of this for our health,” says Professor Hyppönen.
“Usually, the effects of coffee consumption are investigated using an observational approach, where comparisons are made with non-coffee drinkers. But this can produce misleading results.
“In this study, we used a genetic approach – called MR-PheWAS analysis – to establish the real effects of coffee consumption against 1117 clinical conditions.
“Our results suggest that moderate coffee drinking is usually safe.
“But it also showed that habitual coffee consumption increased the risks of three diseases:osteoarthritis, arthropathy and obesity, which can cause significant pain and suffering in people with these conditions.”
Professor Hyppönen says the prevalence of these conditions in Australia and around the world shows the importance of identifying possible causes and influencers of the diseases.
"Excessive coffee consumption can lead to an increased risk of certain diseases," says Professor Hyppönen.
“For those with a family history of osteoarthritis or arthritis, or those concerned about developing these conditions, these results should be a word of caution.
“The body generally sends powerful messages regarding coffee consumption, so it is imperative that people listen to it when consuming coffee.” While these results are reassuring in many ways in terms of overall coffee consumption, the message we should always remember is to consume coffee in moderation – that's the best bet for enjoying your coffee and good health too. “
