Coffee is consumed daily around the world, and previous studies have linked coffee consumption to a reduced risk of diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Scientists still do not fully understand the biological processes that might explain these associations. A new study from Finland, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, shows that regular coffee consumption is linked to healthier body composition, favorable metabolic markers, and distinct sex hormone patterns in both men and women.
Researchers from the University of Oulu analyzed data from 2,264 individuals aged 46 participating in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. The team examined how the participants’ habitual coffee consumption related to circulating metabolites, indicators of cardiometabolic risk, and sex hormone levels.
Coffee drinkers had less fat and more muscle
People who consumed more coffee generally had lower levels of both total body fat and visceral fat, as well as greater skeletal muscle mass. These differences were observed despite the fact that participants with higher and lower coffee consumption had similar body mass indexes (BMI).
Higher coffee consumption was also associated with lower circulating concentrations of branched-chain amino acids in both men and women. Chronically elevated levels of these biomarkers have previously been linked to insulin resistance and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Coffee consumption was linked to distinct hormonal patterns
Some of the most pronounced differences were observed among men. Higher coffee consumption was associated with a more favorable glucose-insulin profile, higher levels of total and bioavailable testosterone, and higher concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). However, free testosterone and the free androgen index were slightly lower.
Hormonal associations in women were less pronounced. Higher coffee consumption was primarily linked to increased SHBG and decreased levels of free androgens.
“Millions of people drink coffee daily, yet we still know surprisingly little about its relationship with our metabolism and hormones. What stood out in our results was a distinct hormonal signal that persisted even after adjusting for BMI and lifestyle factors, with some of these associations differing between men and women,” says Luka Verroest, the study’s lead author and a doctoral researcher at the University of Oulu.
Hormones may offer clues to the link between coffee and health
The findings suggest that hormonal pathways may help explain the previously observed link between coffee consumption and metabolic health. However, as the study was observational, it cannot be established that coffee consumption directly caused any of the biological differences identified. It is worth noting that the average annual coffee consumption in Finland is approximately 11.8 kilograms per person.
The researchers note that the results serve as a starting point for studies aimed at determining whether coffee itself causes these biological changes and, if so, which compounds might be responsible. Scientists are currently investigating these questions using animal models, with the long-term goal of moving toward human intervention studies. Further research will be required before the findings can be used to formulate dietary recommendations.
Coffee is consumed daily around the world, and previous studies have linked coffee consumption to a reduced risk of diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Scientists still do not fully understand the biological processes that might explain these associations. A new study from Finland, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, shows that regular coffee consumption is linked to healthier body composition, favorable metabolic markers, and distinct sex hormone patterns in both men and women.
Researchers from the University of Oulu analyzed data from 2,264 individuals aged 46 participating in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. The team examined how the participants’ habitual coffee consumption related to circulating metabolites, indicators of cardiometabolic risk, and sex hormone levels.
Coffee drinkers had less fat and more muscle
People who consumed more coffee generally had lower levels of both total body fat and visceral fat, as well as greater skeletal muscle mass. These differences were observed despite the fact that participants with higher and lower coffee consumption had similar body mass indexes (BMI).
Higher coffee consumption was also associated with lower circulating concentrations of branched-chain amino acids in both men and women. Chronically elevated levels of these biomarkers have previously been linked to insulin resistance and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Coffee consumption was linked to distinct hormonal patterns
Some of the most pronounced differences were observed among men. Higher coffee consumption was associated with a more favorable glucose-insulin profile, higher levels of total and bioavailable testosterone, and higher concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). However, free testosterone and the free androgen index were slightly lower.
Hormonal associations in women were less pronounced. Higher coffee consumption was primarily linked to increased SHBG and decreased levels of free androgens.
“Millions of people drink coffee daily, yet we still know surprisingly little about its relationship with our metabolism and hormones. What stood out in our results was a distinct hormonal signal that persisted even after adjusting for BMI and lifestyle factors, with some of these associations differing between men and women,” says Luka Verroest, the study’s lead author and a doctoral researcher at the University of Oulu.
Hormones may offer clues to the link between coffee and health
The findings suggest that hormonal pathways may help explain the previously observed link between coffee consumption and metabolic health. However, as the study was observational, it cannot be established that coffee consumption directly caused any of the biological differences identified. It is worth noting that the average annual coffee consumption in Finland is approximately 11.8 kilograms per person.
The researchers note that the results serve as a starting point for studies aimed at determining whether coffee itself causes these biological changes and, if so, which compounds might be responsible. Scientists are currently investigating these questions using animal models, with the long-term goal of moving toward human intervention studies. Further research will be required before the findings can be used to formulate dietary recommendations.
About the Author
