New research finds a link between instant coffee – but not other types of coffee – and an incurable condition that causes blindness. — dpa
A new study suggests that drinking instant coffee could raise the risk of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a major cause of vision loss in older adults.
Interestingly, the study, published in the journal Food Science & Nutrition, found no similar risk with ground coffee, decaffeinated (decaf) coffee, or total coffee intake.
“AMD is a leading cause of vision loss among the elderly in developed countries,” study corresponding author Dr Liu Siwei from the Department of Ophthalmology of Hubei University of Medicine’s Shiyan Taihe Hospital in China told Medical News Today.
“As there is currently no cure, identifying new modifiable factors is crucial for slowing disease progression, preserving vision and improving patients’ quality of life.”
The researchers used the data of over 500,000 participants from the UK Biobank genome-wide association studies summary statistics.
They applied a method called Mendelian randomisation, which uses genetic differences to study cause and effect, similar to a clinical trial.
“Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide and is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants that may offer neuroprotective effects,” Dr Liu explained.
“At the same time, growing evidence shows that genetics influence dietary preferences.
“Studying the genetic predisposition to coffee consumption and its relationship with AMD risk may help reveal potential causal links between diet and eye diseases.”
The researchers believe that the increased risk may come from chemical changes, additives or byproducts formed during the processing of instant coffee – things that are not found in freshly-brewed coffee.
However, the team noted some limitations to their study, like using mostly European data and not having detailed information about different coffee types. – dpa
