5 or More Cups of Coffee a Day Increases Weight Gain, Diabetes Risk

PERTH, AustraliaIndividuals who drink 5 or more cups of coffee a day may put themselves at risk for weight gain and an increased risk of diabetes, according to a new study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The findings suggest a polyphenol in coffee called chlorogenic acid (CGA) known to reduce blood pressure and aid weight loss has the opposite effect in large doses.

Researchers from the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR) and the University of Western Australia's School of Medicine and Pharmacology found excess consumption of CGA found in coffee could have health implications, from preventing fat loss to developing insulin resistance.

Studies have shown that coffee consumption lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This also included research on decaffeinated coffee, which suggested that the health benefits are from a compound in coffee apart from caffeine.

With this in mind, we studied the effects of polyphenols, or more specifically CGAs, which are very rich in coffee but also found in tea and some fruits including plums. The CGAs were previously known for their health benefits, increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing blood pressure and body fat accumulation," the researchers said. However, this study proved the opposite in dosages equivalent to five or six cups of coffee per day."

The researchers found that the equivalent dose of CGA fed to laboratory mice affected the utilization of fat in the liver and caused abnormal retention of fat within cells. The obese mice also had a tendency for a higher degree of glucose intolerance and increased insulin resistance. They also found CGA doesn't prevent weight gain in obese laboratory mice fed a high-fat diet when used at higher doses.

It seems that the health effects are dose-dependent. A moderate intake of coffee, up to three to four cups a day still seems to decrease the risk of developing diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes," the researchers added. "Everybody knows about the effects of caffeine, but when we're considering our lifestyle choices it's important to remember that compounds such as CGA can have an effect on our health if they're not consumed in moderation."