The Relationship Between Caffeine Consumption and Type 2 Diabetes Markers in Three Minority Ethnicities With or Without Diabetes

Abstract

This cross sectional study examines the association between caffeine intake and type 2 diabetes (T2D) markers in three ethnicities: Haitian Americans (HA), African Americans (AA) and Cuban Americans (CA) with or without T2D. Subjects (CA=349, HA=257 HA and AA=249) with a mean age of 58.47 years were recruited at various community centers in South Florida. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) and insulin levels were measured from blood samples following an overnight fast. Homeostasis Model Assessment 2 (HOMA‐2) was used to estimate beta cell function (HOMA2‐β) and insulin resistance (HOMA2‐IR). Caffeine intake was collected using the semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed by Walter Willett. Statistical analysis included t‐test, chi‐square and linear regression controlling for age, gender and waist circumference. Results indicated that as caffeine intake increased, CA with diabetes and AA without diabetes had significantly higher A1C levels (p=0.001 and p=0.042 respectively). These findings suggest closer monitoring of caffeine with respect to glycemic control may be meaningful in some ethnic groups. Funding for this research was provided through an NIH/NIDDK sponsored grant.