Scientists reported that both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee were associated with improvements in mood, memory, stress response, and gut microbiome activity in healthy adults.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
New research published in Nature Communications has found that both regular and decaffeinated coffee may contribute to improvements in emotional well-being, cognitive performance, and stress regulation, with researchers pointing to changes in gut bacteria and metabolite activity as a possible explanation.
The randomized crossover trial examined 31 healthy adults who regularly consumed between three and five cups of coffee daily. Researchers evaluated participants during three separate phases: continued coffee consumption, a temporary coffee abstinence period, and a final reintroduction stage where participants received either caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee.
Because participants served as their own controls throughout the study, researchers said the design strengthened the reliability of the findings by limiting outside variability. Cognitive assessments measured attention, memory retention, mental flexibility, and vigilance, while participants also completed evaluations tracking mood, stress, impulsivity, anxiety, and emotional responsiveness.
Scientists additionally analyzed the participants’ gut microbiomes using sequencing technology designed to monitor bacterial composition and metabolic changes tied to the gut-brain axis, the communication system connecting digestive processes with neurological function.
Following the washout period, both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumption were associated with lower perceived stress levels, reduced symptoms linked to depression, and decreases in impulsive behavior, according to the study findings.
Researchers reported that caffeinated coffee showed stronger associations with heightened attention, improved vigilance, and reduced anxiety, outcomes consistent with caffeine’s stimulant effects on the nervous system.
Participants consuming decaffeinated coffee, however, demonstrated separate advantages tied to sleep quality, learning capacity, memory performance, and physical activity. Researchers noted that these benefits emerged despite the absence of caffeine, suggesting that other compounds in coffee may play a significant role in neurological and emotional effects.
The study also identified measurable shifts in gut bacteria following coffee consumption. Researchers said coffee intake increased certain bacterial species while altering metabolite production associated with inflammation control, mood regulation, and cognitive health.
Importantly, many of the microbiome-related changes appeared after both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee intake, leading researchers to conclude that coffee’s effects on the gut-brain axis may operate independently of caffeine itself.
The findings add to a growing body of research examining coffee’s broader biological effects beyond stimulation alone. Dr. Steven Masley, author of The Better Brain Solution, has previously cited evidence showing a J-shaped relationship between coffee intake and memory decline risk, with the lowest risk observed among individuals consuming one to two cups daily based on studies involving more than 34,000 participants.
At the same time, some medical experts continue to caution that caffeine may worsen anxiety or interfere with sleep in susceptible individuals. Dr. Andrew Weil has advised patients experiencing anxiety symptoms to temporarily eliminate caffeine in order to evaluate its potential contribution.
Separate commentary from Dr. Bob Arnot, author of The Coffee Lovers Diet, has emphasized the potential health benefits of high-polyphenol decaffeinated coffee, particularly its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Arnot has reported that some individuals consuming high-phenol decaf varieties experienced increased energy levels along with reductions in body aches and discomfort.
Researchers behind the current study said the findings help expand scientific understanding of how coffee may influence mental and metabolic health through compounds other than caffeine, including polyphenols and microbial interactions within the digestive system.
The report also aligns with earlier large-scale studies examining coffee’s association with neurological health. A Harvard-led study published in JAMA previously found that moderate consumption of coffee and tea was associated with a 28% lower risk of dementia and a 32% lower risk of stroke.
Additional findings from researchers at Tufts University showed that adults consuming two to three cups of coffee daily experienced a 15% to 17% lower risk of premature death, although researchers noted the benefits were not observed when significant amounts of sugar were added to the beverages.
Authors of the new study concluded that coffee’s diverse mixture of biologically active compounds may support long-term brain and metabolic health through mechanisms tied to gut microbiome activity and the gut-brain connection.
Source: Natural News
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