"Our results show that caffeine consumed after a meal high in saturated fats creates an insulin resistance in healthy persons similar to that seen in pre-diabetes," explains Marie-Soleil Beaudoin interview, Principal author of the study.
"Moreover, this resistance can take many hours. The prolonged presence of glucose in the blood is not healthy and it can influence the functioning of organs, "says the researcher.
The study, conducted among 11 men aged 20 to 30 years, reveals that if the blood glucose level of a healthy person increases after eating a meal high in saturated fat, the rate rises arrow when it is combined with caffeine from coffee.
The participants drank a special drink made entirely of lipids in order to isolate the "greasy." Saturated fat content equivalent to that found in a hamburger or a cheese milkshake. They then had to drink six hours later, a beverage rich in sugars.
In normal times, we know that consuming sugar is found in the blood as glucose, to be pumped to the muscles through the action of insulin, a protein secreted by the pancreas. The goal here was to check first if the saturated fats interfered in the metabolism of blood glucose.
The researchers found that participants had a blood glucose level 32% higher than men did not take a special drink (control group). Saturated fat would affect the secretion of incretin, a hormone produced by the intestine that plays a role in the secretion of insulin.
The scientists then looked to see what was the effect of caffeine. The participants drank the equivalent of 2 black coffees five hours after taking the drink special. An hour later, they should drink a sweet drink. To the surprise of researchers, the blood glucose level was 65% higher than among men who took no saturated fat, no coffee.
And decaffeinated coffee?
Interestingly, this effect was not observed when participants drank decaffeinated coffee, which confirms the central role of caffeine. Caffeine causes insulin resistance, a risk factor that can lead to type 2 diabetes , by desensitizing the cell receptors to insulin.
Other beverages containing caffeine, such as Pepsi and Coca-Cola, would they have a similar effect to coffee? "These drinks are high in sugars, but less caffeine. The effect could be worse, because the blood glucose level would be higher, "suggests Marie-Soleil Beaudoin.
This study reaffirms the adverse effects that saturated fats can have on health. Moreover, it shows that people at risk of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes should abstain from caffeine.
