Heavy coffee drinking associated with less body fat and differences in testosterone markers in men, observational study finds
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A Finnish observational study of more than 2,200 middle-aged adults found heavy coffee drinkers had less body fat and more muscle mass. Men who drank more coffee had higher bioavailable testosterone and SHBG but slightly lower free testosterone. The study cannot show cause and effect.
Heavy coffee drinking is associated with differences in body composition and sex hormones, according to an observational study. Researchers at the University of Oulu in Finland analysed data from more than 2,200 middle-aged adults. They found that heavy coffee drinkers had less total and visceral fat and more skeletal muscle mass than lighter drinkers, despite having similar body mass indexes. The researchers suggest caffeine may raise resting metabolic rate and fat burning by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, but this was not tested.
In men, higher coffee intake was associated with healthier glucose-insulin profiles, higher bioavailable testosterone and more sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG). Free testosterone was slightly lower. Women showed more modest hormone associations, including slightly elevated SHBG and lower free androgens. The team proposes that these hormonal pathways might help explain coffee's previously reported association with lower diabetes risk. Because the study is observational, it cannot establish that coffee causes any of these differences.
The study does not identify a safety concern with coffee, and it does not suggest that people change how much they drink. Anyone with specific questions about hormone levels should speak with a doctor.
What you can doAI-generated
- ✓Start tracking exactly how much coffee you drink each day for two weeks. Write down the cups and note any changes in your energy, mood, or how your clothes fit.
- ✓Talk to your doctor about your caffeine intake if you have low testosterone, take hormone medications, or have been diagnosed with a hormone imbalance.
- ✓Switch to three cups daily if you're currently drinking less and want to test whether increased coffee consumption affects your body composition.
- ✓Ask yourself whether other habits changed when you started drinking more coffee, like exercising more or eating differently, since those could explain the testosterone boost rather than the coffee itself.
Always consult a healthcare professional for personal medical advice.
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