Now a new study, the first to analyze the relationship between coffee consumption and the underlying components of frailty, adds to the growing body of knowledge in this area, exploring the benefits of regular coffee consumption over an extended period of time.
For this study, published in the ‘European Journal of Nutrition’ and funded by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC), researchers conducted a detailed analysis over a seven-year follow-up period, surveying 1,161 adults aged 55 and over through the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA).
The relationship between coffee consumption and the presence and incidence of frailty was investigated. Frailty status was assessed using the five-component frailty phenotype of Fried, defined by the presence of three or more of the following symptoms: weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slow walking speed, and low physical activity.
BETWEEN 4 AND 6 CUPS A DAY
The results indicate that higher habitual coffee consumption is associated with lower overall odds of frailty. These findings can be considered alongside the scientific opinion of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that up to 400mg of caffeine (3-5 cups of coffee) per day is a moderate and safe amount. Specifically, habitual coffee consumption, around 4-6 cups of 125 ml per day, is associated with a lower risk of frailty due to the aging process.
Researchers explain that the effect of coffee in reducing frailty may be partly attributed to the role of coffee antioxidants, which can help reduce inflammation, sarcopenia (muscle loss), and prevent muscle damage. Coffee may also help improve insulin sensitivity regulation and glucose uptake in older individuals.
«Drinking coffee is a fundamental part of the daily routine for many people, and as they age, they constantly seek ways to maintain their health,» says the study’s lead author, Margreet R. Olthof, an associate professor at the Institute for Public Health Research at the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands). «Our findings highlight the potential beneficial association between daily coffee consumption and the reduced risk of frailty in older populations.»
«Therefore, coffee consumption may promote healthy aging, but it is important to also explore other dietary interventions to ensure that older adults can continue to live a fulfilling life,» she concludes.
