type 2 diabetes

Research overview

At a glance

• Research shows that moderate coffee consumption is linked to a reduced risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This has potentially important implications in light of the already high and increasing prevalence of this disease.
• The association is documented in several different populations and the risk of type 2 diabetes decreases consistently as coffee consumption increases:
  • Drinking 3-4 cups of coffee per day is associated with an approximate 25% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to consuming none or less than 2 cups per day.
  • Every additional cup of coffee up to 6-8 cups per day (regular or decaffeinated) is associated with a 5-10% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• Still lacking is a plausible mechanism to explain this association.
  • It is unlikely that caffeine is responsible for the effect.
  • Other coffee constituents, such as antioxidants, may play a role.