European Journal of Nutrition — Schipp D, et al. | November 20, 2018
In this single-blind, randomized controlled study with parallel design, researchers investigated the DNA protective effects of a standard coffee beverage vs water consumption. This study included two periods of 4 weeks, during which healthy women (n=50) and men (n=50) recruited from the general Central European population were randomized to either a coffee or control group, with stratification for sex and body mass index. During the preconditioning period, both groups consumed at least 500 mL of water but no coffee, tea, or any other caffeine-containing beverage. During the intervention period, those in the coffee group consumed 500 mL of freshly brewed dark roast coffee per day and those in the control group drank water instead. On the last day of each period, the investigators drew blood from each participant, which was analyzed by comet assay to assess the level of DNA damage (strand breakage). According to findings, regular consumption of a dark roast coffee blend may offer a beneficial protective effect on human DNA integrity in men and women alike.