A study into the effects of 12 weeks of coffee drinking on non-coffee drinkers

ISRCTN ISRCTN42321643
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN42321643
Secondary identifying numbers N/A
Submission date
28/11/2013
Registration date
14/01/2014
Last edited
04/04/2019
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Nutritional, Metabolic, Endocrine
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

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 don’t. 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

Contact information

Dr Denise Robertson
Scientific

University of Surrey
Guildford
GU2 7XH
United Kingdom

Study information

Study designRandomised parallel arm intervention
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Other
Study typeScreening
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleA 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
Study objectivesEpidemiological 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(s)University of Surrey Ethics Committee, 25/07/2013, ref: EC/2013/68/FHMS
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedGlucose metabolism
InterventionArm 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 typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. 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 measuresNo secondary outcome measures
Overall study start date01/06/2013
Completion date13/08/2015

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants48
Key inclusion criteria1. Healthy adult males and females (aged 18+)
2. Weight stable for 3 months
3. People who do not drink tea and coffee regularly
Key exclusion criteria1. 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
Date of first enrolment30/09/2013
Date of final enrolment09/04/2014

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Surrey Clinical Research Centre
University of Surrey
Egerton Road
Guildford
GU2 7XH
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University of Surrey (UK)
University/education

Research and Enterprise Support
Guildford
GU2 7XH
England
United Kingdom

Website http://www.surrey.ac.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/00ks66431

Funders

Funder type

Research organisation

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (UK) - CASE studentship

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/12/2017
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryNot provided at time of registration
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in a high-impact peer reviewed journal by the end of 2017.
IPD sharing planThe current data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/04/2018 Yes No

Editorial Notes

10/08/2018: Publication reference added.
14/02/2017: Overall trial dates changed from 18/11/2013 - 31/12/2014 to 01/06/2013 - 13/08/2015. Recruitment dates were changed from 18/11/2013 - 31/12/2014 to 30/09/2013 - 09/04/2014.