Daily coffee consumption is associated with a decreased risk of developing SPCJD

A recent study published in the journal Nutrients examines the link between coffee consumption and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women.

Women with PCOS often suffer from dysfunction of gonadotropin hormone synthesis, which leads to problems with ovulation. PCOS also causes psychological and metabolic disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity, insulin resistance, intestinal microbiome dysbiosis, eating disorders, anxiety and depression.

A recent study in the UK found that 26% of women with PCOS develop diabetes, significantly increasing the cost to the National Health Service (NHS). In the US, similar healthcare costs due to PCOS have increased to US$15 billion per year.

Due to differences in diagnostic criteria, the global prevalence of PCOS is difficult to estimate. For example, in Spain, the prevalence of PCOS is between 5% and 10%, whereas worldwide, the condition may affect up to 15% of women of reproductive age. In Western countries, the prevalence of PCOS tends to increase.

The etiopathogenesis of PCOS is multifactorial and includes genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors. One study found that women diagnosed with PCOS typically consume a low-quality diet with insufficient levels of magnesium and zinc and lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise have been shown to be effective in improving PCOS symptoms. For example, a low-carbohydrate diet can reduce glucose and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) levels and improve symptoms associated with hyperandrogenism.

Previous studies have shown that coffee consumption improves PCOS symptoms through several pathways. Coffee contains high levels of phenols, which improve insulin sensitivity and reduce hypersecretion. Reducing the expression of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway also reduces insulin sensitivity and improves β-cell function.

The current case-control study was conducted from September 2014 to May 2016 in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the University Clinical Hospital in Spain. For the diagnosis of PCOS, clinical and biochemical tests were taken into account, including a total testosterone level of 2.6 nmol/L or higher, indicating hyperandrogenism (HA), ultrasound images to confirm the presence of polycystic ovaries (PCOM), and oligo-annovulation/amenorrhea or anovulation (OD) tests.

Each PCOS patient was represented by one of four phenotypes. Phenotype A included patients with HA, OD, and PCOM, phenotype B included patients with HA and OD, phenotype C included patients with HA and PCOM, and phenotype D included patients with OD and PCOM.

Phenotypes A and B are most commonly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hyperinsulinemia, obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, or metabolic syndrome. Phenotypes A, B, and D have been reclassified as anovulatory phenotypes, phenotype C as the ovulatory phenotype, and phenotypes A, B, and C as hyperandrogenic phenotypes.

Daily caffeine and alcohol intake were assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Diet quality was assessed using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index 2010 (AHEI2010) and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). Patients' physical activity level was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF).

The current study included 126 patients diagnosed with PCOS and 159 controls. The controls were women who attended the clinic for routine gynecological examinations and had no gynecological symptoms.

The mean age and body mass index (BMI) of the study participants were 29 years and 24.33, respectively. The mean caffeine intake in the study cohort was 52.46 mg/day.

Women with PCOS were relatively younger, had a higher body mass index, and engaged in less intense physical activity compared to the control group. In addition, women in the control group consumed more caffeine and alcohol.

Consistent with previous findings, the current study found that drinking at least one cup of coffee per day reduced the risk of developing PCOS. Study participants who consumed approximately two cups of coffee each day had a 70% lower risk of developing PCOS symptoms compared to those who never drank coffee. Mechanistically, this protective role of coffee is explained by its effect on the metabolism of sex hormones, such as testosterone, in plasma.

The results of the study indicate that coffee consumption reduces the risk of developing PCOS symptoms in a dose-dependent manner. Coffee contains many bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory activity that can effectively regulate plasma hormone levels and improve insulin sensitivity.

However, excessive caffeine consumption has also been linked to the risk of estrogen-dependent cancers. Therefore, further studies are needed to confirm these observations and to ensure the development of a safe and effective coffee intervention for the treatment of PCOS.