type 2 diabetes
Coffee consumption and type 2 diabetes
Regular coffee consumption linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes
A statistically significant negative association for coffee and type 2 diabetes has been observed in different populations. In addition, there is a dose response relation, i.e. lower incidence at higher levels of consumption. Taken together, these are a strong indication for a true association between consumption of coffee and the lower incidence of type 2 diabetes.
The combined data – from both a Dutch cohort study of 17,111 adults and 306 new cases of type 2 diabetes in 20024, and a systematic review with meta-analysis covering 457,922 individuals and 21,897 newly diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes from 8 different countries at the end of 20091 – show a statistically significant negative association between coffee consumption and subsequent risk of type 2 diabetes.
Every additional cup of coffee per day is associated with a 5-10% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Drinking 3 to 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.
More recently, five more epidemiological studies have been published5,6,7,8,9. All five have confirmed the negative association for coffee consumption.
Decaffeinated coffee and tea also linked to lower risk of type 2 diabetes
As with caffeinated coffee, the majority of published studies which have evaluated the relationship between decaffeinated coffee or tea drinking and risk of type 2 diabetes have reported similar negative associations1,6,7,9.
