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Addicted to coffee? The blame may be on your DNA
For many people, having a coffee in the morning is practically a ritual. For others, only one dose is not enough. The drink is also very consumed after meals and is routinely offered to visitors. The consumption of coffee, however, more than a decision that pleases the palate, may be related to the DNA: this is what reveals a research published recently in the British scientific journal Scientific Reports.
Laboratory tests have identified the PDSS2 gene that can influence how the body metabolizes caffeine. A group of researchers led by Nicola Pirastu of the University of Trieste found that the more the gene is
active in a person's genome, the less it drinks coffee. "The hypothesis is that in such cases, the gene makes caffeine metabolism slower, which is why these individuals need less coffee to feel the positive effects of the beverage," says Pirastu.
To conduct the study, in addition to analyzing the DNA of 1207 Italians and 1731 Dutch, the researchers did a survey of caffeine consumption of these individuals. In general, the Dutch tended to drink more coffee. However, in both cases, participants with higher levels of PDSS2 gene expression consumed less coffee compared to their compatriots.
"The results of our study are in addition to existing research, suggesting that our tendency to drink coffee can be determined by our genes," concludes Pirastu. Coffee consumption is associated with the prevention of various diseases, such as heart problems, diabetes and cancer. Despite this, it also predisposes consumers to have sleep disorders.
Source: Scientific Reports, August 2016