Instant Coffee Is Negatively Associated with Telomere Length

Summary: The study investigated the association between coffee consumption and telomere length using data from the UK Biobank. Observational analyses found that coffee intake and instant coffee intake were negatively correlated with telomere length, while filtered coffee showed no significant correlation. Mendelian randomization analyses supported these findings, showing that instant coffee had a causal relationship with shorter telomere length. The type of coffee appears to play an important role, with instant coffee potentially shortening telomere length due to added substances like creamer and flavorings. Further research is needed to validate these results and clarify the potential mechanisms involved. In summary, instant coffee in particular may reduce telomere length, an indicator of biological aging.

Instant coffee likely also correlates with working at night and not having very much money. I wonder if they properly controlled for those factors?

Based on UK Biobank data and self-reports. Possible reason is: “The mineral lead in instant coffee was more abundant than that in other coffee types, and long-term consumption of instant coffee may result in excessive lead. Additional substances added to commercial instant coffee, such as creamer and flavoring agents, might partially explain the negative effect.” Additives aren’t accounted for here.