Coffee induces Autophagy – Jesse Santiano M.D.

This article presents two studies. The first is an animal study that shows that coffee increases the proteins associated with autophagy. The second concludes that coffee consumption correlates with skeletal muscle mass in older people.

Autophagy is a normal biological process that cleans up old, dysfunctional, diseased, and precancerous cells. Intermittent fasting and physical exercise are two ways to stimulate autophagy.

A French study studied whether coffee can induce autophagy. The authors wanted to know why population studies and clinical trials show that coffee prevents several metabolic diseases and reduces overall and cause-specific mortality.

In their mice experiment, they used water with 3% coffee. 3% is well within the range of that absorbed by coffee-consuming persons. (They found that water with 10% coffee caused weight reduction in their mice.)

The authors found that the autophagy markers in the liver, skeletal muscle, and heart (Microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain three or LC3B) were elevated one to four hours after coffee consumption.

The result was applied to both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffees. The researchers speculate that the polyphenols in coffee are responsible for the increase in autophagy.

Polyphenols are naturally occurring organic compounds found in plants. They are found in fruits, wine, chocolate, legumes, and tea.

Coffee and mTOR

The mechanistic target of rapamycin or mTOR is an energy sensor. When we eat, the mTOR detects the calories and signals that there is no need for cellular recycling or autophagy to happen.

In contrast, during intermittent fasting, mTOR senses the absence of energy intake and signals that autophagy is needed.

In the same study, acute and chronic administration of coffee inhibited mTOR. Thus, drinking coffee is similar to fasting in that it promotes autophagy, at least in this study.

The mice drank and ate as much as possible in the study.

Coffee and muscle mass in people

In general, the older one gets, the physically weaker one gets. That’s because of muscle mass loss, which can be due to a combination of diet, how the body absorbs protein, and lack of physical activity.

Another possible reason is the lack of autophagy. In a previous article, Exercise alone can induce autophagy. I presented the studies showing the need for physical activity to stimulate autophagy.

While doing this article, I stumbled on the study Association between habitual coffee consumption and skeletal muscle mass in middle-aged and older Japanese people.[2]

The next study links coffee and autophagy in humans.

The second research assessed coffee consumption in older Japanese and their skeletal muscle mass and grip strength.[2]

Coffee is known to reduce inflammation. Could the decrease in inflammation explain the increase in muscle in coffee drinkers? The study answered that question, which is why a blood test called C-reactive protein was also measured.

The study included 6,369 men and women aged 45–74 years. Coffee consumption was known using questionnaires.

Muscle mass is measured using a bioelectrical impedance analysis, and grip strength is measured with a Smedley-type dynamometer.

They found that people who drink coffee tend to have more muscles. The other finding is that reducing inflammation with coffee has nothing to do with increased muscle.

With regard to grip strength, there was a positive trend; however, it did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion

So there you have it. Two studies. One shows how autophagy happens after coffee intake in mice.

Second, a human study shows that coffee drinking is associated with increased skeletal muscle mass, indirect evidence of autophagy.

Black coffee is one of the beverages allowed during intermittent fasting. According to the Mayo Clinic, 400 mg of caffeine daily appears safe for most healthy adults. That is equal to four cups of brewed coffee.

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References:

Pietrocola F, Malik SA, Mariño G, Vacchelli E, Senovilla L, Chaba K, Niso-Santano M, Maiuri MC, Madeo F, Kroemer G. Coffee induces autophagy in vivo. Cell Cycle. 2014;13(12):1987-94. doi: 10.4161/cc.28929. Epub 2014 Apr 25. PMID: 24769862; PMCID: PMC4111762.
Iwasaka C, Yamada Y, Nishida Y, Hara M, Yasukata J, Miyoshi N, Shimanoe C, Nanri H, Furukawa T, Koga K, Horita M, Higaki Y, Tanaka K. Association between habitual coffee consumption and skeletal muscle mass in middle-aged and older Japanese people. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2021 Oct;21(10):950-958. doi: 10.1111/ggi.14264. Epub 2021 Aug 17. PMID: 34405954.

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