Genetics play a surprising role in your coffee cravings

Coffee is prominent in many people's daily routines, and its aroma and flavor have captivated millions globally. Researchers from the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and the University of California, San Diego, sought to answer the question: What determines how much coffee we drink? The results were quite unexpected.

The research team conducted genome-wide association studies using data from the United States and the United Kingdom. According to Hayley Thorpe, the lead researcher and a PhD scientist at Western's Schulich Medicine & Dentistry, they identified a genomic region linked to the likelihood of drinking coffee.

It appears that genetics play a significant role. The scientists discovered that specific gene variants inherited from our parents affect our coffee consumption habits.

During their data analysis, scientists also found a connection between coffee consumption and specific adverse health effects, including obesity and the use of psychoactive substances. The study's authors emphasize that drinking coffee does not cause obesity or addiction to psychoactive substances. Instead, it's more about the genetic predisposition to consume coffee, which is in some way related to these traits."

Researchers highlighted another aspect: the genetics of anxiety, bipolar disorder, and depression in the dataset appear to be linked to the genetics of coffee consumption. Interestingly, this correlation was present only in North American data, while the UK data showed the opposite trend.

The latest research is not conclusive, and further analyses are needed to better understand the relationship between health issues and coffee consumption.