Instant Coffee and Genetics May Raise Risk of Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Study
Approximately 200 million people globally live with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), with the majority affected by its dry form. While known risk factors include both genetics and lifestyle, a new study suggests that the combination of genetic predisposition and consumption of instant coffee may further increase the risk of developing dry age-related macular degeneration.
Coffee is a popular beverage, and previous cohort studies suggest it may reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, confounding factors in these studies necessitate further exploration of causal relationships using advanced methods. We obtained data on coffee consumption from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and the latest age-related macular degeneration-related GWAS summary data from the Finngen consortium R11.
We assessed their genetic correlation using linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC), explored causal associations using Mendelian randomization (MR), and identified shared genetic loci via colocalization. The results revealed a genetic correlation between instant coffee consumption and dry age-related macular degeneration, with each standard deviation (SD) increase in instant coffee intake associated with a corresponding odds ratio (OR) of approximately 6.92 for dry age-related macular degeneration, indicating a 6.92-fold increased risk. However, colocalization analysis did not show shared genetic variants between instant coffee consumption and age-related macular degeneration. Instant coffee may increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration, and reducing its intake could help prevent dry age-related macular degeneration.
People at high-risk for age-related macular degeneration should avoid instant coffee. This study aids clinicians in identifying dietary factors, particularly instant coffee consumption, as potential risks for age-related macular degeneration. By providing genetically based causal evidence, our findings support the development of personalized age-related macular degeneration prevention strategies. Clinicians can advise patients to reduce instant coffee intake based on genetic risk profiles, offering a precision approach to reduce dry age-related macular degeneration risk. These interventions may significantly contribute to age-related macular degeneration prevention and treatment.
Reference:
Jia, Q., Z. Zha, S. Li, Y. Zhang, L. Ke, and S. Liu. 2025. “ Genetic Correlation and Mendelian Randomization Analyses Support Causal Relationships Between Instant Coffee and Age-Related Macular Degeneration.” Food Science & Nutrition 13, no. 6: e70439.https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3..
