A new study published in the journal Nature Microbiology revealed that drinking coffee changes the microorganisms in our intestines, increasing gut microbiome diversity and enhancing the growth of beneficial bacteria, mainly due to polyphenols. Researchers from ZOE, a nutritional science company, conducted the study with over 77,000 participants from the U.S., U.K., and other countries, discovering numerous benefits associated with daily coffee consumption, influencing fundamental aspects such as digestion, immunity, and metabolic balance.

Professor Tim Spector noted that the study "highlights just how fussy our microbes can be," adding that "Lawsonibacter microbe hangs around in suspended animation, just waiting for a cup of coffee in order to flourish." This bacterium was eight times more prevalent in coffee drinkers than in participants who didn't drink coffee.

The study revealed that Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus seems to thrive in the intestinal environment of coffee lovers, regardless of whether the coffee is caffeinated or decaffeinated. Experts say that coffee's complex chemical composition, rich in compounds like quinic acid and trigonelline, not only provides energy and pleasure but also stimulates the growth of Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus, which can convert components in coffee into more beneficial compounds.

"Coffee is made from fermented coffee beans, which are full of healthy chemical compounds and phytochemicals, including polyphenols, that can improve health. These compounds, such as chlorogenic acid and quinine, are metabolized by the microbiome to produce beneficial secondary compounds." Spector added, "This gives us novel insight into how we need great plant diversity in our diets to properly feed all our gut microbes and reap the health benefits."

The impact of coffee on the microbiota could partly explain its known health benefits, including reduced risk of death from heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. The presence of lawsonibacter is the strongest link between an individual food or drink and a specific bacteria ever identified.

At present, scientists are unclear how the increased level of Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus may affect human health. "Currently, we don't know how this microbe impacts our health, though it may be involved in positive health impacts we can thank coffee for," Spector noted. "This is the tip of the iceberg and shows how, with the massive sample size of ZOE's database, we can unlock many more food microbe connections, informing us how to eat for better health." 

Despite the study's revelations, many questions remain unanswered, such as what other compounds in coffee interact with Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus. It is also unclear whether the microbiota could explain the protective effects of coffee against diseases like diabetes or cardiovascular diseases.

The researchers call for further studies on the subject. Nicola Segata noted that coffee "strongly stimulates the presence and abundance of this bacterium," which could be significant for other bacteria and for foods having greater effects on health. 

British Vogue, Mirror, and La Razon were among the news outlets that covered the findings. 

This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq