Coffee may reduce diabetes risk

OU Health Sciences Center researchers found that drinking a large amount of coffee can reduce the risk of diabetes among American Indians.

The study, conducted by Ying Zhang for almost eight years, compared the incidence of diabetes across different groups of coffee drinkers. Those who drank more than 12 cups of coffee per day were 67 percent less likely to develop Type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is a disease in which one has high blood sugar because the body and its hormones cannot properly process it, according to the American Medical Association.

Despite the findings, however, researchers do not recommend people drink 12 cups of coffee per day, and they are in the process of finding what exactly causes the reduced risk of diabetes. Certain compounds have been identified as possibilities, but the exact one is not yet known.

Zhang focused on coffee because of its popularity.

“We wanted to look at coffee because so many young people drink coffee that if it had any property that would help prevent diabetes it would be important for public health,” Zhang said.

Though the study only focused on American Indians, other groups are also being studied, Zhang said. Researchers in other parts of the country have found a reduced risk in those other ethnic groups as well.

Zhang said he chose to study American Indians first because of the group’s population in Oklahoma and its high rate of diabetes. Genetics, lifestyle and environment are the most likely causes of diabetes.

Zhang’s study has already been published in an international journal about diabetes. The research was done with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and MedStar Research Institute. The Strong Heart Study also contributed grants to the research.

From:Oudaily.com