This week in lab, we performed
capillary electrophoresis to determine caffeine content in Coca Cola and Red
Bull. However, I was particularly interested by one fact that Dr. Carlucci
mentioned in his presentation on caffeine: He stated that caffeine helps
prevent type 2 diabetes. I was very surprised by this fact, especially given
caffeine’s bad reputation in the health department. I’ve never before been told
that caffeine can actually be good
for your health. In contrast, caffeine is supposed to increase cardiovascular
disease risk by raising levels of LDL (bad cholesterol). However, caffeine is
also believed to be anti-carcinogenic. So what about caffeine and diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a
metabolic disorder that causes high blood glucose levels due to acquired insulin
resistance. Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination
of genetic and lifestyle and behavioral factors. This means that it can also be
controlled, and possibly prevented, by behavioral interventions.
Many studies have been performed on
the effects of caffeine on diabetes, all with similar conclusions. First, it
has been suggested that caffeine reduces insulin sensitivity, which results in
higher insulin levels in the body. Therefore, for those who already suffer from
type 2 diabetes, caffeine intake is detrimental to their disease control.
However, conflicting results have been found for long-term coffee intake by
healthy individuals. In healthy subjects, caffeine consumption has been linked
to increased insulin sensitivity, which encourages glucose homeostasis. The
mechanism of action is yet unclear, but one hypothesis is that caffeine
inhibits the enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase, which in turn reduces blood plasma
glucose concentration. Based on these observations, it seems that caffeine has
both positive and negative effects on the body. If that weren’t confusing
enough, the caffeine story gets even more complicated...
In a study performed in the
Netherlands, people who drank at least 7 cups of coffee per day were 50% less
likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who drank 2 cups or less a day.
However, multiple studies have found the exact same correlation with
decaffeinated coffee. Since decaf contains very little caffeine, its
anti-diabetes properties must be attributed to something other than caffeine.
The answer? Our old friend antioxidants! Coffee contains over 100
active chemicals, including many antioxidants. One of the most important and
most abundant is chlorogenic acid, which is the ester of caffeic acid and
quinic acid. One study even reported that as much as 66% of a person’s daily
antioxidant intake is made up of chlorogenic acid from coffee! In addition to
its antioxidant properties, chlorogenic acid reduces blood glucose concentration
by slowing the release of glucose into the bloodstream following food
consumption. As an antioxidant, it is theorized that chlorogenic acid prevents
oxidation of small dense LDL, which is otherwise easily oxidized. This leads to
favorable cholesterol levels, which helps prevent diabetes.
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| Chlorogenic acid |
Caffeine itself, along with the
caffeine derivatives theobromine and xanthine, has also been shown to have
antioxidant activity. It protects DNA by stopping hydroxyl radical generating
systems, preventing radical attack on DNA. Caffeine also reduces fat oxidation
and lipolysis, which decreases body fat, another risk factor for type 2
diabetes. Although studies have shown that caffeine itself is not responsible
for the anti-diabetes effects of coffee, it does have positive health effects
of its own…As if we college students needed another excuse to drink coffee!
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