Coffee Reduces Risk of Diabetes

Men who drink four or more cups of coffee a day have about 23% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes than men who drink no coffee, according to a report in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Researchers conducted a prospective community-based study of 12,204 middle-aged men and women from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (1987–1999) without diabetes to identify associations with the consumption of coffee and sweetened beverages.

They found an inverse relationship between drinking coffee and the incidence of diabetes, with men who consumed four or more cups a day experiencing significantly less diabetes over the 9-year follow-up period. The trend did not hold true for women. The incidence of diabetes was based on self-reporting, treatment for diabetes, and blood tests.

Analysis of data also showed “no consistent association” between the consumption of sweetened beverages and diabetes.

The researchers suggest that more research is needed on the effect of coffee consumption on glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and diabetes risk before patients can be given specific recommendations.

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