Drinking just one or two cups of coffee daily can significantly lower metabolic syndrome risk indicators, according to new research.
A recent study cited by the Korea Food Communication Forum (KOFRUM) analyzed data from 27,119 participants (17,530 women and 9,589 men with an average age of 55) registered in the Taiwan Biobank between 2011 and 2019. The research, conducted by Dr. Ku Peng-yi's team from the Department of Internal Medicine at Kaohsiung University Hospital in Taiwan, was published in Nutrients, a leading international nutrition journal, in January.
Participants completed questionnaires about their coffee consumption frequency, type, daily intake, and metabolic syndrome diagnosis status. Metabolic syndrome, a precursor to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, refers to a condition where high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and abdominal obesity occur simultaneously.
The analysis found that those who consumed black coffee or coffee with milk had a 15 percent lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Daily coffee drinkers showed particularly notable reductions in metabolic syndrome prevalence. The most significantly reduced risk indicators among regular coffee drinkers were hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL cholesterol. Regular coffee drinkers showed approximately 16 percent lower risk of both hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL cholesterol compared to non-coffee drinkers.
"These findings suggest that bioactive compounds in coffee may positively affect certain metabolic markers," the research team said. "Coffee contains not only caffeine but also various bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and chlorogenic acid, which can beneficially influence lipid metabolism and inflammatory responses."
The Remarkable Effects of Polyphenols in Coffee
Similar findings emerged from Brazil. A research team from the University of São Paulo recently published results from an eight-year study tracking the diets and health status of 6,378 adults. The study found that participants who consumed an average of 469 mg of polyphenols daily — an antioxidant found in coffee — had a 23 percent lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome compared to those who consumed only 177 mg.
According to the research, adequate polyphenol intake alone can reduce the probability of heart disease and diabetes by nearly one-quarter. The researchers explained that polyphenols go beyond simply reducing inflammation — they fundamentally alter the gut microbiome ecosystem, thereby lowering insulin resistance.
"Beyond coffee, consuming polyphenols from various sources including fresh fruits, vegetables, dark chocolate, and moderate amounts of wine can enhance preventive effects," the team added. The study was published in the latest issue of The Journal of Nutrition.
According to the 2024 Health Screening Statistical Yearbook published by the National Health Insurance Service, seven out of ten Koreans are exposed to metabolic syndrome risk. Among those screened, 23.9 percent have already been diagnosed with metabolic syndrome, while 45.9 percent are in the "caution group" with one to two risk factors that could develop into metabolic syndrome.
