January 21/Wuhan, China/Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry -- A recent study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows that coffee can help prevent type 2 diabetes.  The research is all the more important as it explains why this disease is prevented by coffee consumption.

The study was performed by researchers Ling Zheng, of Wuhan University, and Kun Huang, of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. Based on the data they have gathered, coffee contains a compound which inhibits hIAPP (human islet amyloid polypeptide) the substance which is often linked to diabetes.

According to scientists’ report, a person should drink four or more cups of coffee a day in order to lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 50%. In fact, every additional cup of coffee reduces the risk by 7%.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of disease. It accounts for 95% of all cases. It is often linked to hIAPP because this substance was found in the pancreases of most patients. Zheng and Huang wondered if coffee had anything to do with the reduction of the hIAPP, so they tested the substance.

The research presupposed the study of coffee compounds like caffeic acid and caffeine. In the end, tests have shown that hIAPP was significantly diminished thanks to all these components contained in most people’s morning drinks.

Regular coffee drinkers are more likely to experience the positive effects of the coffee. However, scientists will do their best to see if they can reproduce the compounds, so people who don’t drink coffee could reduce the risks of getting ill, as well.

Diabetes expert have stated that the research is very good for patients who suffer from this disease; however, there are several limitations that must be solved before suggesting people that they should increase their daily quantity of coffee. First of all, the study was performed on cells and not on humans; secondly, the research does not prove that type 2 diabetes is not caused by another habit that patients have.

 From the January 23, 2012, Prepared Foods' Daily News.