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A new study has revealed intriguing insights into coffee’s impact on the gut microbiota, highlighting its potential role in promoting beneficial microorganisms and further supporting coffee’s numerous health benefits.
Coffee, one of the world’s most consumed beverages, has long been associated with a variety of health benefits, including reduced risks of diabetes, liver disease, cancer, and even cardiovascular mortality. These positive effects are largely attributed to coffee’s polyphenol content, particularly chlorogenic acid, which is metabolized by gut microorganisms into beneficial compounds such as caffeic acid and quinic acid.
In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Microbiology, scientists conducted a large-scale analysis of gut microbiota samples from over 22,000 individuals who provided detailed reports on their long-term coffee consumption. The research was further enriched by integrating public data from over 54,000 samples, encompassing diverse populations ranging from healthy individuals and newborns to non-Westernized groups and those with specific diseases.
The study, which analyzed more than 35,000 metagenomic samples across multiple cohorts—including the ZOE Personalized Responses to Dietary Composition Trial (PREDICT), the Mind–Body Study (MBS), and the Men’s Lifestyle Validation Study (MLVS)—has provided valuable insights into how coffee influences gut health.
Key Findings: The study identified a strong correlation between coffee intake and gut microbiota composition. When participants were categorized by their coffee-drinking habits—never-drinkers, moderate drinkers, and high drinkers—the results showed clear distinctions in gut microbiota across these groups. Coffee drinkers, in particular, exhibited a unique microbiota composition compared to non-drinkers, with the strongest effects linked to the bacterium Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus.
This bacterium was found to be 4- to 8-fold more abundant in high coffee drinkers compared to non-drinkers, with moderate drinkers showing a 3- to 4-fold higher abundance. Interestingly, the same association was observed for both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, indicating that coffee’s influence on Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus is independent of caffeine content.
In vitro experiments further confirmed these findings, showing that coffee significantly boosted the growth of Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus, even in the absence of caffeine. These results suggest that other components in coffee, such as polyphenols, may play a key role in stimulating this bacterium.
Additionally, the study revealed that coffee consumption is linked to the prevalence of 115 gut microbial species, underlining coffee’s broad influence on the gut microbiota.
Metabolomic Insights: The researchers also conducted a metabolomic analysis of plasma samples, identifying metabolites like quinic acid and its derivatives as being enriched among coffee drinkers. These metabolites were found to be strongly associated with the presence of Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus in the gut. Interestingly, the study noted that decaffeinated coffee drinkers also exhibited a similar microbial profile, suggesting that components other than caffeine—such as quinic acid—could play a central role in this process.
Significance for Future Research: The findings offer valuable insights into how coffee may interact with the gut microbiota, opening avenues for future research into the role of dietary polyphenols in shaping gut health. Given the variation in microbial responses across populations, the study also highlights the need for further exploration into how cultural differences in coffee consumption might influence microbiome composition.
This research provides a foundational understanding of the biochemical pathways through which coffee affects the gut, paving the way for more targeted studies on how coffee and its metabolites influence health at the microbiological level.
Study Reference: Manghi, P., Bhosle, A., Wang, K., et al. (2024). Coffee consumption is associated with intestinal Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus abundance and prevalence across multiple cohorts. Nature Microbiology, 9(12), 3120-3134. DOI: 10.1038/s41564-024-01858-9.
