Espresso, Latte or Decaf? Genetic Code Drives Your Desire for Coffee

Summary: Study reveals a causal genetic link between cardio-health and coffee consumption. Those who subconsciously prefer decaffeinated coffee are more likely to be prone to the adverse effects of caffeine and have risk factors for high blood pressure.

Source: Univesity of South Australia

Whether you hanker for a hard hit of caffeine or favor the frothiness of a milky cappuccino, your regular coffee order could be telling you more about your cardio health than you think.

In a world first study of 390,435 people, University of South Australia researchers found causal genetic evidence that cardio health—as reflected in blood pressure and heart rate—influences coffee consumption.

Conducted in partnership with the SAHMRI, the team found that people with high blood pressure, angina, and arrythmia were more likely to drink less coffee, decaffeinated coffee or avoid coffee altogether compared to those without such symptoms, and that this was based on genetics.

Lead researcher and Director of UniSA’s Australian Center for Precision Health, Professor Elina Hyppönen says it’s a positive finding that shows our genetics actively regulate the amount of coffee we drink and protect us from consuming too much.

“People drink coffee for all sorts of reasons—as a pick me up when they’re feeling tired, because it tastes good, or simply because it’s part of their daily routine,” Prof Hyppönen says.

“But what we don’t recognize is that people subconsciously self-regulate safe levels of caffeine based on how high their blood pressure is, and this is likely a result of a protective genetic a mechanism.

“What this means is that someone who drinks a lot of coffee is likely more genetically tolerant of caffeine, as compared to someone who drinks very little.

“Conversely, a non-coffee drinker, or someone who drinks decaffeinated coffee, is more likely prone to the adverse effects of caffeine, and more susceptible to high blood pressure.”

In Australia, one in four men, and one in five women suffer from high blood pressure, with the condition being a risk factor for many chronic health conditions including stroke, heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

This shows a woman drinking a cup of coffee
Prof Hyppönen says how much coffee we drink is likely to be an indicator of our cardio health. Image is in the public domain

Using data from the UK Biobank, researchers examined the habitual coffee consumption of 390,435 people, comparing this with baseline levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and baseline heart rate. Causal relationships were determined via Mendelian randomization.

Prof Hyppönen says how much coffee we drink is likely to be an indicator of our cardio health.

“Whether we drink a lot of coffee, a little, or avoid caffeine altogether, this study shows that genetics are guiding our decisions to protect our cardio health,” Prof Hyppönen says.

“If your body is telling you not to drink that extra cup of coffee, there’s likely a reason why. Listen to your body, it’s more in tune with what your health than you may think.”

About this genetics and caffeine research news

Source: University of South Australia
Contact: Annabel Mansfield – University of South Australia
Image: The image is in the public domain

Original Research: Closed access.
Cardiovascular symptoms affect the patterns of habitual coffee consumption” by Elina Hyppönen et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition


Abstract

Cardiovascular symptoms affect the patterns of habitual coffee consumption

Background

Excessive coffee consumption can lead to unpleasant sensations such as tachycardia and heart palpitations.

Objectives

Our aim was to investigate if cardiovascular symptoms can lead to alterations in habitual patterns of coffee consumption.

Methods

We used information from up to 390,435 European ancestry participants in the UK Biobank, aged 39–73 y. Habitual coffee consumption was self-reported, and systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate were measured at baseline. Cardiovascular symptoms at baseline were based on hospital diagnoses, primary care records, and/or self-report. Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to examine genetic evidence for a causal association between SBP, DBP, and heart rate with habitual coffee consumption.

Results

Participants with essential hypertension, angina, or heart arrhythmia were all more likely to drink less caffeinated coffee and to be non-habitual or decaffeinated coffee drinkers compared with those who did not report related symptoms (P ≤ 3.5 × 10−8 for all comparisons). Higher SBP and DBP were associated with lower caffeinated coffee consumption at baseline, with consistent genetic evidence to support a causal explanation across all methods [MR-Egger regression (MREggr) β: −0.21 cups/d (95% CI: −0.34, −0.07) per 10 mm Hg higher SBP and −0.33 (−0.61, −0.07) per 10 mm Hg higher DBP)]. In genetic analyses, higher resting heart rate was associated with a greater odds of being a decaffeinated coffee drinker (MREggr OR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.31, 2.21) per 10 beats/min).

Conclusions

We provide causal genetic evidence for cardiovascular system–driven influences on habitual coffee intakes, suggesting that people tend to naturally regulate their coffee consumption based on blood pressure levels and heart rate. These findings suggest that observational studies of habitual coffee intakes are prone to influences by reverse causation, and caution is required when inferred health benefits result from comparisons with coffee abstainers or decaffeinated coffee drinkers.

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