Insulin is a hormone whose main job is to regulate blood sugar levels in your body. After eating carbs or protein, blood sugar levels increase and insulin is released to transport glucose to cells where it's used for energy metabolism. However, chronically high insulin levels can contribute to insulin resistance, blood vessel dysfunction and metabolic syndrome. Coffee consumption may increase insulin levels; however, research is mixed.
Increases Insulin
Coffee consumption might increase insulin levels, according to a study performed by researchers at Vrije Universiteit in the Netherlands. Subjects were assigned 1 L of coffee, which contained 70 g coffee grounds, for four weeks and then abstained from coffee for another four weeks. Glucose and insulin levels were both measured before and after the study. Scientists found that participants experienced higher insulin levels after four weeks of coffee consumption compared to the no coffee period. The findings were reported in the December 2004 issue of "Diabetes Care."
Insulin Sensitivity
Insulin sensitivity is an indicator of how well your body is using insulin to transport glucose into cells. Higher insulin sensitivity indicates that your body is releasing less insulin to move glucose into your cells, whereas lower insulin sensitivity suggests that your body is releasing more insulin. Researchers at the Uppsala University in Sweden studied the impact of coffee consumption on insulin sensitivity in non-diabetics. They found that coffee consumption was associated with improved insulin sensitivity, which keeps insulin levels lower, according to research reported in the 2004 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association."
C-peptide Levels
C-peptide is a marker for insulin secretion; therefore, higher C-peptide levels indicate a higher release of insulin in the body. Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health studied the effects of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumption on C-peptide levels. They discovered that women who drank four or more cups of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee daily had lower C-peptide levels compared with non-drinkers, according to findings reported in the June 2005 issue of "Diabetes Care."
Side Effects
If you decide on drinking coffee, keep in mind that it may increase your insulin levels. In addition, excess caffeine from coffee may lead to side effects such as nausea, insomnia and nervousness. If you experienced any of these symptoms, reduce your intake of coffee or other caffeinated sources.
References
- "Diabetes Care"; Effects of Coffee Consumption on Fasting Blood Glucose and Insulin Concentrations; R.M. van Dam et al.; December 2004
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Coffee Consumption and Insulin Sensitivity; J. Arnlov et al.; 2004
- "Diabetes Care"; Caffeinated Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, and Caffeine in Relation to Plasma C-peptide levels, a Marker of Insulin Secretion, in U.S. Women; T. Wu et al.; June 2005
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