Finnish study links coffee to body composition

A study from the University of Oulu, published in the European Journal of Nutrition, analyzed data from 2,264 participants of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, all aged 46. The research found that higher habitual coffee intake was associated with lower total and visceral fat, greater skeletal muscle mass, and lower levels of branched-chain amino acids, despite similar BMIs. Sex-specific hormonal patterns were observed: men with higher coffee consumption had higher total and bioavailable testosterone and SHBG, while women showed higher SHBG and lower free androgens. The study is observational and cannot prove causation. Researchers are investigating potential mechanisms in animal models, with human intervention trials planned. The findings add to existing evidence linking coffee to metabolic health benefits.