Study Finds Regular Coffee Drinkers Tend to Have Less Fat and More Muscle
Research from the University of Oulu shows that people who consume coffee daily have lower body fat and higher muscle mass than non-drinkers.
A team at the University of Oulu surveyed more than 2,200 participants about their health habits, including how many cups of coffee they drank each day, ranging from none to five or more. After an overnight fast and a period without coffee, researchers measured participants' body fat, muscle mass, and blood chemistry, then gave a glucose drink to assess sugar handling. Results indicated that higher coffee intake correlated with less total and visceral fat and greater skeletal muscle, as well as reduced concentrations of three branched-chain amino acids linked to insulin resistance.
The study did not determine that coffee directly causes these changes. Men who drank more coffee tended to have lower fasting insulin, while women showed weaker associations between coffee and glucose control. The authors noted a distinct hormonal pattern that persisted after adjusting for body mass index and lifestyle factors, with several effects differing between sexes.
Why it matters
Understanding coffee's association with body composition could inform dietary guidance and metabolic health strategies.
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