University of Oulu study links coffee to improved body composition

Researchers from the University of Oulu in Finland have identified correlations between higher coffee consumption and improved body composition. According to a study published in the ‘European Journal of Nutrition’, an analysis of 2,264 individuals aged 46 revealed that those with higher coffee intake tended to have lower percentages of total and abdominal fat, as well as greater skeletal muscle mass.

Notably, these differences in body composition were observed even among participants with similar Body Mass Indices (BMI), suggesting that coffee consumption may relate to how weight is distributed rather than just total weight. The study also noted beneficial metabolic markers, including lower levels of branched-chain amino acids, which are often linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

In terms of hormonal impact, higher coffee consumption was associated with increased levels of total and bioavailable testosterone, as well as higher concentrations of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in men. While the study highlights these significant associations, researchers noted that the findings indicate correlations rather than proving that coffee directly causes these physiological changes.