Coffee with Milk Doubles Anti-Inflammatory Properties, University of Copenhagen Study Shows
by Lars H
A new study from the University of Copenhagen reveals that a simple cup of coffee with milk may have an anti-inflammatory effect in humans. Researchers found that the combination of proteins and antioxidants in coffee and milk doubles the anti-inflammatory properties in immune cells. The promising results could lead to further studies on the potential health effects on humans.
Inflammation is a common response when our immune systems react to bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances. Antioxidants called polyphenols, found in plants, fruits, vegetables, and humans, help reduce oxidative stress in the body, which leads to inflammation. However, much remains unknown about how polyphenols react with other molecules, such as proteins in the foods we consume.
The study, conducted by researchers from the Department of Food Science and the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, investigated the behavior of polyphenols when combined with amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. They discovered that the inhibitory effect on inflammation in immune cells is enhanced when polyphenols react with an amino acid.
Professor Marianne Nissen Lund, who headed the study, said, “It is clearly imaginable that this cocktail could also have a beneficial effect on inflammation in humans. We will now investigate further, initially in animals. After that, we hope to receive research funding which will allow us to study the effect in humans.”
The researchers observed that immune cells treated with a combination of polyphenols and amino acids were twice as effective at fighting inflammation compared to cells treated with only polyphenols. This anti-inflammatory effect was found in cell experiments, and the researchers are eager to study these health effects in animals and, eventually, humans.
The study also demonstrated that the reaction between polyphenols and proteins occurs in coffee drinks with milk. Coffee beans are rich in polyphenols, while milk contains proteins. Similar reactions and potentially beneficial anti-inflammatory effects could occur when combining other foods consisting of proteins and fruits or vegetables.
Polyphenol Facts
- Polyphenols are a group of naturally occurring antioxidants important for human health.
- They help prevent and delay oxidation in our bodies, protecting chemical substances and organs from damage or destruction.
- Polyphenols are found in various fruits, vegetables, tea, coffee, red wine, and beer.
- Due to their antioxidant properties, polyphenols are used in the food industry to minimize oxidation of fats and the quality deterioration of foods, preventing off flavors and rancidity.
The research is funded by Independent Research Fund Denmark and conducted in collaboration with the Technical University of Dresden in Germany. The study has been published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.