New Research Reveals Coffee's Impact on Gut Microbiome and Brain Function
Scientists at APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, have conducted a study investigating how coffee, both caffeinated and decaffeinated, influences the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The research, published in Nature Communications and sponsored by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC), involved 31 regular coffee drinkers and 31 non-coffee drinkers. Participants underwent psychological assessments and provided samples to track changes in gut microbes, metabolism, mood, and perceived stress. When regular coffee drinkers abstained from coffee for two weeks, significant shifts in their gut metabolite profiles were observed. Upon reintroduction of coffee, both caffeinated and decaffeinated groups reported reduced perceived stress, depression, and impulsivity. The study also found differences in several types of gut bacteria, with 'Eggertella sp.' and 'Cryptobacterium curtum' being more abundant in coffee drinkers, potentially contributing to an intestinal environment that discourages...
