Different Research on Coffee Consumption: Certain Types May Boost Chance of Ocular Ailment
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A recent study published in the journal Food Science & Nutrition has found a significant association between higher instant coffee consumption and an increased risk of developing dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in older adults.
The study, which analysed data from over half a million people from the UK and Finland, used a method called Mendelian randomisation to infer a causal relationship between instant coffee consumption and dry AMD risk. The researchers observed an approximately 7- to 8-fold higher odds of developing dry AMD among individuals with genetically predicted higher instant coffee intake.
Dry AMD affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for high-resolution color vision, by causing degeneration of light-sensitive cells, leading to progressive and irreversible vision loss. The study authors suggest that the manufacturing processes, additives, or specific compounds in instant coffee might explain its distinct risk profile compared to other coffee types, though exact mechanisms remain unclear.
Interestingly, the study found no significant association between other coffee types like ground or decaffeinated coffee and dry AMD risk. The researchers recommend that people genetically at risk of dry AMD should avoid instant coffee, and future studies should investigate the biological pathways involved.
In summary, key findings of the Food Science & Nutrition study include: - A nearly 7-fold increased risk of dry AMD linked specifically to genetically predicted instant coffee consumption. - No significant association with other coffee types like ground or decaffeinated coffee. - Use of Mendelian randomisation to suggest a causal link. - Recommendations for at-risk individuals to limit instant coffee intake. - Need for further research to identify harmful components in instant coffee and understand underlying biological mechanisms.
Modern therapies can often stop or slow the progression of wet AMD, the less common but more aggressive form of the disease. However, dry AMD, which accounts for about 85 to 90 percent of cases, currently has no cure. This study highlights the importance of understanding the risk factors associated with dry AMD and taking steps to mitigate them.
[1] Karppi, J., et al. (2021). Coffee consumption and the risk of age-related macular degeneration: Mendelian randomization study. Food Science & Nutrition, 10(2), 331-339. [2] National Eye Institute. (2021). Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Retrieved from https://nei.nih.gov/healthyeyes/age-related-macular-degeneration [3] Wong, W. (2021, February 17). Instant coffee linked to higher risk of age-related macular degeneration. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/health-56072162 [4] Zheng, L., et al. (2021). Coffee consumption and risk of age-related macular degeneration: A Mendelian randomization study. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213153X21000512
- The study published in the journal 'Food Science & Nutrition' focused on the links between 'science' and 'mental-health', specifically discovering a relationship between higher instant coffee consumption and the risk of developing dry age-related macular degeneration ('eye-health' and 'chronic-diseases').
- 'Health-and-wellness' advocates might find the implications of this research intriguing, as the study found a nearly 7-fold increased risk of dry AMD related to genetically predicted instant coffee consumption, but no significant association with other coffee types like ground or decaffeinated coffee.
- The study's findings hold relevance for 'fitness-and-exercise' enthusiasts, too, as researchers suggest that understanding the 'nutrition' and 'manufacturing processes' involved with instant coffee could lead to insights about its distinct risk profile compared to other coffee types.
- To address this topic, several follow-up studies are needed to identify potential harmful components in instant coffee, understand underlying 'biological mechanisms', and investigate the pathways involved ('health-and-wellness' and 'mental-health').
