In a recent population-based study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition , researchers in China investigated the relationship between coffee and caffeine intake and skeletal muscle mass among adults in the United States of America (U.S.).
They found that a higher intake of coffee and caffeine was positively linked to skeletal muscle mass. However, this association was notably absent in individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher. Association between coffee intake and skeletal muscle mass among U.
S. adults: a population-based study . Image Credit: Halfpoint / Shutterstock Background Sarcopenia, a chronic disease involving the loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, significantly impacts older adults, potentially leading to increased falls, fractures, and mortality.
Muscle mass is known to decline by 1–2% annually after age 50, and sarcopenia affects up to 40% of those over 80 years of age. Coffee, a widely consumed beverage in the U.S.
, is rich in polyphenols and caffeine, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may benefit muscle health. Previous studies suggest that coffee intake could improve muscle mass and reduce sarcopenia risk through mechanisms like promoting autophagy and enhancing myosatellite cell function. However, much of the existing research has focused on Asian populations, particularly in Japan and Korea, and often involves small sample sizes.
As a result, the relationship between coffee consumption, caffe.