High plasma caffeine levels reduce risk of osteoarthritis and obesity: BMC

A recent study published in the latest issue of BMC Medicine explored the complex relationship between caffeine consumption and its effects on human health. The outcomes of this study unveiled the multifaceted impacts of caffeine on the body in relation to obesity and joint health.

The research utilized innovative methods to dissect the clinical effects of caffeine by leveraging genetic variants closely associated with caffeine metabolism. The research team led by Loukas Zagkos included phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) and Mendelian randomization to unravel the intricate interplay between circulating caffeine levels and various health outcomes.

The findings revealed a compelling link between genetically predicted circulating caffeine levels and reduced risks of obesity, osteoarthrosis and osteoarthritis among caffeine consumers. The higher plasma caffeine levels were associated with a lower risk of these conditions that suggests a potential protective effect of caffeine on body weight and joint health.

Further, the study unearthed intriguing insights into the underlying biological mechanisms that drive these beneficial effects. Proteomic and metabolomic analyses unveiled lower levels of chronic inflammation, improved lipid profiles and alterations in protein and glycogen metabolism among the individuals with increased circulating caffeine levels.

The study emphasized the significance of these findings that provide novel evidence supporting the notion that long-term increases in circulating caffeine may confer health benefits, particularly in reducing obesity and joint-related conditions. Overall, the results offer promising implications for public health and clinical practice but also warrants further investigation to fully comprehend the translational relevance of these findings.

Reference:

Zagkos, L., Cronjé, H. T., Woolf, B., de La Harpe, R., Burgess, S., Mantzoros, C. S., Elliott, P., Yuan, S., Larsson, S. C., Tzoulaki, I., & Gill, D. (2024). Genetic investigation into the broad health implications of caffeine: evidence from phenome-wide, proteome-wide and metabolome-wide Mendelian randomization. In BMC Medicine (Vol. 22, Issue 1). Springer Science and Business Media LLC. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03298-y