Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
There is evidence from studies in populations which suggests that people who drink coffee are less likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) than those who dont. However, short-term studies, which look at the effect of coffee on blood glucose over a period of several hours, have had varying results. It is possible that any beneficial effects of coffee in terms of diabetes risk are not as a result of its effects on blood glucose and insulin but by its effects on other factors associated with risk of T2DM such as cholesterol, raised triglycerides (fat/lipids), obesity and high blood pressure.
There have been few studies looking at the longer term effects of coffee drinking. Of these, most have used regular coffee drinkers. However, this may not be the best group of people to study as they will probably already have gained any benefits associated with long-term coffee drinking.
Research has also shown that the effects of coffee drinking on certain disease risks may vary depending on how the individual deals with caffeine; however, this has not so far been investigated in relation to diabetes risk.
This study therefore aims to investigate the effects in non-coffee drinkers of drinking four cups of coffee per day over a 12-week period on various risk factors for T2DM. We will also investigate whether these effects vary depending on whether the participants are fast or slow caffeine metabolisers .
Who can take part?
Healthy non-smoker males and females aged 18 and over who have had a stable weight for 3 months and who do not drink tea or coffee regularly.
What does the study involve?
At the first study visit a fasting blood sample is taken from the participant. The participant is then fed a liquid meal and further blood samples are taken at 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minute intervals. Participants are randomly allocated to either a coffee-drinking or caffeine-free group. The coffee-drinking group drink four cups of caffeinated coffee per day for 12 weeks. The caffeine-free group are caffeine free for 12 weeks. Participants will be visited 2-3 times during the 12 weeks and asked to provide saliva samples which will be tested to check if participants in each group are following the set procedures . The participant then returns for a second study visit, which is identical to the first.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no anticipated benefits. There is a risk of an adverse reaction to coffee, such as shaking, difficulty getting to sleep and abnormal heartbeats. This will be minimised by spreading the coffee drinking throughout the day and drinking the last cup before 5pm. Participants will also take part in a two-day study before enrolment into the full study.
Where is the study run from?
University of Surrey (UK).
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in November 2013 and will run until December 2014.
Who is funding the study?
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (UK).
Who is the main contact?
Dr Denise Robertson
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
A parallel arm study investigating the effects of 12 weeks coffee drinking in non coffee drinkers on glucose metabolism and other risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Acronym
Study hypothesis
Epidemiological evidence suggests that people who drink a lot of coffee are less likely to develop Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Acute intervention studies investigating the effects of a single dose of coffee on the glycaemic response are contradictory. Any potential beneficial effects of coffee may however not manifest in an acute study, but may appear over a prolonged period of coffee drinking.
Variations in a gene responsible for caffeine metabolism mean that some people are slow caffeine metabolisers, whereas some are fast metabolisers. It is possible that these genetic variations will affect postprandial glucose metabolism; however, to date there have been no studies examining the effect of these genotypes on glycaemic response.
The aim of this study is to investigate the effects in non-coffee drinkers of consuming caffeinated coffee for 12 weeks on glucose metabolism and other risk factors for T2DM.
A secondary aim is to examine whether any effects found differ between slow and fast caffeine metabolisers.
Ethics approval
University of Surrey Ethics Committee, 25/07/2013, ref: EC/2013/68/FHMS
Study design
Randomised parallel arm intervention
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Screening
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Glucose metabolism
Intervention
Arm 1 (coffee intervention): four cups of coffee per day (made from 2 g instant coffee granules) for 12 weeks.
Arm 2 (control group): no caffeine and four cups of water per day for 12 weeks.
There will be no follow-up for either arm after the 12-week intervention and the final (second) study visit has taken place.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
1. 2-hour liquid meal tolerance test (glucose, insulin and triglycerides)
2. Fasting glucose
3. Insulin
4. Adiponectin
5. Inflammatory markers
6. Lipids
Measured at baseline and after 12-week intervention.
Secondary outcome measures
No secondary outcome measures
Overall trial start date
01/06/2013
Overall trial end date
13/08/2015
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Healthy adult males and females (aged 18+)
2. Weight stable for 3 months
3. People who do not drink tea and coffee regularly
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
48
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Those taking any prescription medicines (excluding contraceptives) within the last 3 months
2. Regular smokers
3. Regular tea and coffee drinkers
4. Medical conditions including heart disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, liver disease and endocrine diseases
5. Those following a weight-reducing diet
Recruitment start date
30/09/2013
Recruitment end date
09/04/2014
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Surrey Clinical Research Centre
University of Surrey
Egerton Road
Guildford
GU2 7XH
United Kingdom
Sponsor information
Organisation
University of Surrey (UK)
Sponsor details
Research and Enterprise Support
Guildford
GU2 7XH
United Kingdom
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
Research organisation
Funder name
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (UK) - CASE studentship
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Planned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal by the end of 2017.
IPD sharing plan:
The current data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date
Intention to publish date
31/12/2017
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list
2018 results in: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29569539