For many, a daily cup of coffee (or two) is a bare necessity. Aside from the taste and the caffeine boost it gives, coffee has already proven to be medically promising in the past, and research from China’s Kunming Institute of Botany reaffirms this once again.
Although everyone knows the importance of eating healthily, this isn’t always an easy task. Some of the most delicious things in life also seem to be some of the most unhealthy ones. Yet luckily, every now and again, there are exceptions to that rule.
Since coffee takes up such an important place in the lives of many, it’s not surprising that researchers have thoroughly studied the plant over and over again. In the past, coffee beans have, for example, shown promising results regarding cancer and obesity prevention.
In addition, researchers from China’s Kunming Institute of Botany have discovered that multiple coffee compounds can be linked to type 2 diabetes treatment. The results of their study, in which they analysed Arabica coffee beans to determine possible substances useful in managing blood sugar, were published in the Beverage Plant Research.
“Three novel diterpene ester compounds (1−3) with significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity were rapidly achieved targeted separation with very small amounts of organic solvent. Three other trace coffee diterpene esters (4−6) with potential α-glucosidase inhibitory activity were directly identified without enrichment with the aid of an LC-MS/MS-based molecular network”, the authors write.
In their lab experiments, the scientists discovered that several compounds found in coffee beans had an impact on an enzyme called α-glucosidase. In our body, that enzyme helps to break down carbohydrates, and some type 2 diabetes treatments concentrate on slowing down that process to ensure a more gradual release of sugar.
Should you drink coffee to cure your type 2 diabetes?
However, despite the promising results, it is too soon to state that drinking a daily cup of coffee could help cure or even prevent type 2 diabetes. How exactly the compounds impact the enzyme still needs to be determined, and although the researchers were able to extract the ester compounds in their lab studies, it is unclear whether those same compounds are released during a regular coffee brewing session.
More research is thus needed to study exactly which effect coffee may have on type 2 diabetes, although another study also showed the potential benefits of coffee on type 2 diabetes through the presence of polyphenols in the beans, showing the future treasure trove of scientific benefits that coffee might yet unveil.
