May/June 2004
HEALTH BYTES

Coffee can lower risk of diabetes

      Drinking coffee and other caffeinated beverages may protect against type-2 diabetes, a new study suggests. In the study, researchers analyzed data on caffeine consumption from more than 42,000 men and 84,000 women in the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study and Nurses' Health Study. The findings showed a statistically significant inverse relationship between caffeine consumption and the risk of diabetes in both men and women. In those who reported drinking more than six cups of coffee a day, the risk was 54 percent lower for men and 29 percent lower for women. Researchers noted that coffee also contains magnesium, antioxidants and other compounds which may be beneficial for sugar metabolism and diabetes risk, but that it’s premature to recommend increased coffee consumption as a way to decrease risk of diabetes.