University of Oulu study links coffee consumption to metabolic and hormonal changes

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Oulu, published in the ‘European Journal of Nutrition’, has identified links between coffee consumption and various metabolic and hormonal factors. The research analyzed data from 2,264 participants from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966.

Findings indicate that individuals with higher coffee intake—categorized into groups consuming 1–2, 3–4, or at least 5 cups daily—tended to have lower percentages of total and abdominal fat, as well as higher skeletal muscle mass. Notably, these differences in body composition were observed even among participants with similar Body Mass Index (BMI) values.

In terms of metabolic health, higher coffee consumption was associated with lower concentrations of branched-chain amino acids, which are linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Hormonal observations showed that men who drink more coffee exhibited higher levels of total and bioavailable testosterone, as well as higher sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Women also showed increases in SHBG and decreases in free androgen levels, though the effects were generally less pronounced than in men.