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Your genes may be to blame if you can’t get started in the morning without a cup of coffee.
Six genes associated with our love, or otherwise, of coffee have now been identified.
Scientists say that not only do these genes impact the way coffee is processed in the body, but they may also make genetic carriers more attracted to the prospect of drinking coffee.
Scientists did note, however, that those with these genes may drink 0.03 to 0.14 more cups of coffee per day — meaning the impact of these genes on coffee intake is small.
Some of the genes researchers say are associated with coffee intake have previously been linked in some way to smoking, obesity, blood pressure, diabetes, lipid profiles, and liver enzyme profiles. None of those factors, however, were linked to coffee intake in the study.
The findings are published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
Agencies/Canadajournal
Daniel Chasman, associate professor at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the study’s senior author, said: “Like previous genetic analyses of smoking and alcohol consumption, this research serves as an example of how genetics can influence some types of habitual behaviour.”