Genetically addicted to coffee
If you have ever wondered why you cannot start the day without a cup of coffee, or why you simply need a freshly brewed espresso in the afternoon, then the answer could be genetic.
Depending on your point of view, that’s something to be celebrated – in our eyes at least!
Researchers from the University of Trieste and the nearby Burlo Garofolo Pediatric Institute teamed together and undertook what is called a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in order to hopefully located specific genes which are responsible for certain food preferences.
Over 4,000 people from Europe and Central Asia were asked how much they liked specific foods and when it was all said and done, the researchers revealed that they had found 17 genes that impact our partialities when it comes to the dining table.
The result showed that the subjects had particular genes which could be linked the foodstuffs such as bacon, mushrooms, white wine and (of course) coffee.
According to Nicola Piratsu, who was the study’s lead author, it is hoped that further on down the line that diets will created according to genetic blueprints which should, in theory, benefit everybody.
But this this recent piece of work hasn’t exactly broke new ground: A few years ago in 2011 a similar study took place in America which looked at genetic variations in around 40,000 individuals and found that there were two pieces of DNA that were explicitly associated with high consumption levels of tea, coffee and other drinks that contained caffeine.
At the time, Dr Neil Caporaso, who published the findings in the PLoS Genetics journal, stated that “there are hundreds of genes known for specific medical conditions – for dietary consumption we know very little.
“Now, for the first time, we know specific genes that influence the amount of caffeine that individuals consume.”
So the next time you’re reaching for a cup of coffee, thank your parents!