ABSTRACT
Background:
Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages and has been associated with various health benefits. However, the relationship between coffee consumption and body composition remains unclear, particularly in Asian populations.
Objective:
This study aimed to investigate the association between coffee consumption frequency and body composition indicators -fat mass index (FMI), lean body mass index (LBMI), and appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI)-in a nationally representative sample of Korean adults.
Methods:
Data were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2008 and 2011. A total of 15,457 adults aged 20 years or older were included in the analysis. Coffee consumption was assessed via food frequency questionnaire and categorized into four groups: <1/day, 1/day, 2/day, and 3/day. Body composition was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and FMI, LBMI, and ASMI were calculated. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and dietary factors. Stratified analyses were conducted by age.
Results:
In multivariable-adjusted models, higher coffee consumption was associated with favorable body composition indices, particularly lean mass-related measures. Among men, consuming coffee three times per day was associated with higher ASMI and LBMI compared with consuming coffee less than once per day, whereas no clear association with FMI was observed. Among women, higher coffee consumption was associated with lower FMI and higher ASMI and LBMI. Specifically, women who consumed coffee three times per day had lower FMI (7.64 vs. 7.83 kg/m2) and higher ASMI (5.94 vs. 5.86 kg/m2) and LBMI (15.56 vs. 15.39 kg/m2) compared with those who consumed coffee less than once per day.
Conclusions:
Consumption of coffee, three times per day, was associated with more modestly more favorable body composition profiles in Korean adults. These findings indicate an association between habitual coffee consumption and body composition at the population level. However, longitudinal and interventional studies are warranted to establish causality and elucidate underlying biological mechanisms.
