Black coffee helps prevent metabolic syndrome in women

Drinking 2 to 3 cups of black coffee daily appears protective against metabolic syndrome (MetS) in women, potentially due to its positive impact on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides, suggests a Korea study.

This study assessed diet, including the type and quantity of coffee consumed, using a 24-hour dietary recall method. Coffee was categorized as follows: black coffee and coffee with sugar and/or cream (nondrinkers, ≤1, 2–3, and >3 cups/day).

The investigators explored the association between coffee intake and MetS (defined by the harmonized criteria) using multivariable logistic regression models. They used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2016 to 2021 among 14,631 adults aged 19–64 years.

Women who drank 2–3 cups/day of black coffee were less likely to develop MetS (odds ratio, 0.66, 95 percent confidence interval, 0.46–0.96) after adjusting for potential confounders. Additionally, drinking no more than 3 cups of black coffee daily showed an inverse association with low HDL-C and elevated triglycerides in women.

On the other hand, coffee consumption showed no significant association with MetS in men. Likewise, drinking coffee with sugar and/or cream or >3 cups/day did not significantly correlate with MetS overall.

“Further prospective studies examining the consumption of different coffee types in relation to MetS are warranted to offer definitive evidence,” the investigators said.