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Acute effects of light and dark roasted coffee on glucose tolerance: a randomized, controlled crossover trial in healthy volunteers

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Abstract

Purpose

Epidemiological evidence suggests that coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. Coffee contains caffeine and several other components that may modulate glucose regulation. The chlorogenic acids (CGA) in coffee have been indicated as constituents that may help to normalize the acute glucose response after a carbohydrate challenge. The aim of this study was to investigate whether two coffee beverages that differ in CGA content due to different roasting degrees will differentially affect glucose regulation.

Methods

In a controlled crossover trial, 11 healthy fasted volunteers consumed 300 mL of either light (LIR) or dark (DAR) roasted coffee, or water, followed 30 min later by a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Blood samples were drawn at baseline, 30, 60, and 120 min. Differences in glucose and insulin responses and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were analyzed. The CGA and caffeine contents in the coffees were analyzed using UPLC-MS/MS.

Results

No differences in glucose area under the curve (AUC) were found between treatments. Glucose concentrations were higher at 60 min after ingestion of DAR compared with water, while ingestion of LIR showed similar glucose concentrations as ingestion of water. Insulin AUC was higher after ingestion of DAR compared with water, and both coffees raised insulin concentrations and reduced ISI compared with water, with no difference between the two coffees.

Conclusion

Two coffees with different CGA contents did not differentially affect glucose or insulin responses during an OGTT, but both increased the insulin response compared with water.

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Acknowledgments

We express our gratitude to Morten Münchow at Kontra Coffee A/S for generously supplying the coffee used in the study. Also, thanks are given to the biomedical laboratory scientists (Pia Lisbeth Madsen and Sarah Fleischer Ben Soltane) and the research kitchen staff at the Institute for Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, for valuable assistance throughout the study. And especially we wish to thank the volunteers for taking the time to participate in our study. This study was supported in part by the University of Copenhagen and in part by a Grant from the Danish Innovation Foundation (4203-00002B) under the BioNH call (FoodBall project) under the Joint Programming Initiative, “A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life.”

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  1. Institute for Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 26, 1958, Frederiksberg C, Denmark

    Elin Rakvaag & Lars Ove Dragsted

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  1. Elin Rakvaag
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  2. Lars Ove Dragsted
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Correspondence to Lars Ove Dragsted.

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Rakvaag, E., Dragsted, L.O. Acute effects of light and dark roasted coffee on glucose tolerance: a randomized, controlled crossover trial in healthy volunteers. Eur J Nutr 55, 2221–2230 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-1032-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-015-1032-9

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