Khaberni - A new study points out that drinking 4 cups of coffee daily may add years to the life of people at risk of early death.
Coffee has long been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease, dementia, and diabetes, but a new study has now found that coffee helps those with poor mental health extend their lifespans by adding 5 years compared to those who do not drink coffee.
According to "Daily Mail", patients with acute mental disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, tend to live 15 years less than their mentally healthy counterparts, as these disorders are linked to heart diseases, some types of cancer, and advanced aging.
The effect of coffee and the number of cups
In a British-Norwegian study, the first of its kind, researchers found that coffee has a lasting effect on the telomeres (the end caps of chromosomes) of patients with mental disorders – telomeres are the caps that protect DNA from damage – giving them an equivalent of 5 additional years.
But only if they drink between 3 and 4 cups of coffee daily. This is the maximum recommended limit by international health organizations, as exceeding this limit leads to telomere shortening and shorter life.
Bipolar Disorder
In this study, the research team from King's College London and the University of Oslo in Norway analyzed blood samples from 436 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia or mood disorders, including bipolar disorder and severe depressive disorder with psychosis.
By measuring the telomere length in white blood cells, the researchers found that compared to non-coffee drinkers, drinking between 3 to 4 cups daily is associated with longer telomeres, but not for those who drink 5 cups or more daily.
Antioxidants
The exact reason for these effects in coffee remains unclear, although this study focused on its antioxidant properties.
Coffee contains several antioxidant compounds, such as: chlorogenic acid, cafestol, kahweol, trigonelline, and melanoidins.
The researchers stated that the results highlight the "potential protective effects of coffee in this population segment".
They added: "Telomeres are highly sensitive to both oxidative stress and inflammation, which further highlights how coffee consumption can help maintain cellular aging in a group that might be predisposed to accelerated aging due to its pathological conditions."
