A recent genetic study involving US and UK adults of European ancestry has found consistent positive correlations between coffee intake, substance use, and obesity. Published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, the research draws on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to explore the genetic underpinnings of coffee consumption and its health impacts. The study analyzed data from 10,156 US participants and compared it with the UK Biobank's largest available GWAS of coffee intake. The analysis revealed seven significant loci associated with metabolic processes and identified 165 candidate genes related to coffee intake.
The study observed that coffee consumption is genetically linked to substance use and obesity-related traits in both populations, although the associations were stronger and more numerous in the US cohort. This contradicts earlier studies suggesting inverse relationships between coffee intake and body mass index (BMI). Discrepancies may stem from cultural differences in coffee consumption habits and variations in coffee types and amounts consumed. The study also found positive genetic associations between coffee intake and psychiatric disorders, pain, and gastrointestinal traits in the US cohort, but these were not observed in the UK cohort. The findings highlight the complexity of genetic factors influencing coffee consumption and its varied health outcomes.
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