Coffee: Balancing the Good with the Bad

Reducing the acrylamide content of coffee to protect against potential nervous system damage and carcinogenic effects may also negatively impact the flavor and nutritional benefits of the popular beverage, a new study reports.

Researchers at the European Commission in Belgium and Nestlé Product Technology Centre in Switzerland explained that because of the recognized toxicity of acrylamide, intensive efforts have been made to reduce the concentration of this undesired Maillard by-product in food. Acrylamide, a chemical compound that may damage the nervous system and is carcinogenic in laboratory animals, is created when starchy foods are baked, roasted, fried or toasted.

The study involved a series of experiments aimed at determining the concentration of acrylamide and the in vitro radical scavenging capacity in the same roasted and ground coffee samples, as it is well established that a significant part of the antioxidant activity in coffee is linked to the melanoidins, which are also considered Maillard reaction products (MRPs).

The radical scavenging capacity was measured using electroparamagnetic resonance (EPR). Coffee samples from the Robusta and Arabica varieties were roasted at 236 °C (456.8 °F) over different time periods to obtain very light, light, medium and dark roasts. Color analyses were performed on all samples.

The researchers found that increasing the roasting degree led to a decrease in acrylamide concentration as well as radical scavenging capacity. Researchers concluded that any mitigation efforts must also take into account the potential loss of desired food constituents and consequently changes to the risk/benefit characteristics of foods.

According to the International Coffee Organization (ICO), coffee originated in the Horn of Africa, in Ethiopia. The ICO claims that North Americans are the world's largest consumers. Additionally, coffee may be one of the most valuable primary products in world trade, with the ICO reporting that in recent years, coffee has been second in value only to oil as a source of foreign exchange to developing countries. Its cultivation, processing, trading, transportation and marketing provide employment for millions of people worldwide. The ICO reports that in many developing countries, exports of coffee account for a substantial part of their foreign exchange earnings- in some cases over 80 percent. Coffee is produced in over 60 countries, generating more than $70 billion in retail sales annually.

For more information on the health benefits and risks associated with coffee, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

Comments

[Nick]

I don't think anyone should be worrying about coffee. People have been drinking it for a long time. Of course there are health risks. There are health risks and concerns in fried eggs butter and according to Atkins, even bread-the cornerstone to the human diet since we stopped picking berries and eating mastadon. It all comes down to this: eat responsibly, in moderation, and according to your personal health issues and you will be fine.

[Jen]

Coffee has been the subject of many new studies. It has been suggested that coffee is an antioxidant, a good source of fiber and may possibly help individuals lose weight and prevent liver disease.

I don't know what I would do without my morning cup of Joe. Just like anything, I realize there are certain health risks when you put a drug like caffeine into your body. But, for someone like me, who needs coffee to wake up, the benefits definitely outweigh the risks.

[J. Kathryn Bryan]

Thank goodness I now have a study to defend my preference for the lighter, more caffeinated roast!

On a more serious note, though, I wonder how much acrylamide content in beans varies, according to the geographic location where the beans are grown. And could acrylamide even vary from farm to farm, depending on what fertilizer is used for the plants? Might the acrylamide even vary from year to year, even on the same farm?

I would have liked to see the authors conduct a larger sample size for this coffee by sampling from different batches of beans from different brands. Or perhaps the researchers could have used beans from a major manufacturer, such as Maxwell House, which surely pools crops from myriad farms together for sale on a large magnitude. I’d imagine that the range of acrylamide content would be even larger in operations producing more expensive specialty coffees for coffee snobs.

On a side note, the effects of coffee on a person from a Traditional Chinese medical perspective vary, according to a person’s constitution and environmental factors. My acupuncturist once recommended that I drink more of it to get my qi moving a bit more. But surely there have been other patients who she’s told to put up with the jitters in order to get into control of their overactive livers.

[D. B. Martin]

It is interesting that this addresses finding a balance between the nerve damaging, carcinogenic effects and some potentially (elusive) beneficial constituents of coffee. It appears that the two cancel each other out. What we are left with, then, is an addictive and potentially dangerous substance that has become even more so, with the increasing amounts of caffeine showing up in coffee these days (550 mg per "grande" cup of Starbucks! That's three times the amount in your average cup of non-gourmet coffee!!) I admit I am a study of one, but my heart rate and blood pressure have both gone up over the past few years... the biggest change in my lifestyle? Two double espressos a day that I can barely function without. Clearly, I'd be best off canceling the coffee all together.

[Cady B]

Coffee has its good points, as well as it's bad, but as Nick stated, the bottom line is to eat responsibly and in moderation. Maybe Starbuck's is banking on the fact that caffeine does have addictive properties. I think the research is pointing out that a daily cup of coffee might not be so bad.

Similar to alcohol, too much can lead to dependence, but a glass of wine a day can be beneficial to your health.

[Rachelle Provost]

I heard that drinking a glass of water in the morning wakes your body up more than a cup of coffee. Also, when training for a marathon last summer, a nutritionist told me that you should really cut coffee out of your diet because it's better to just let fresh air, eight hours of sleep/night and daily physical activity keep you healthy and alert rather than jump-starting your system with a stimulant. That said, I did have powergels with me (liquid food for those of you reading this who are confused) that had caffeine in them, and I had them on the second 1/2 of my marathon. I'm not sure if they contributed to my second wind or not, but caffeine in small amounts seems to be OK. But I don't think it's healthy to have it as a daily part of your diet, especially if you experience withdrawal headaches when you don't have it. Instead of heading for that quick caffeine fix mid-afternoon, try stepping outside and doing a few jumping jacks - SO MUCH BETTER FOR YOU. I need to take my own advice...

[Kalyn]

This has been controversial for years. Does coffee really have benefits? I am not a coffee person. I am perhaps one of those few people that become anxious, irritated and jittery after drinking one cup of coffee. Regardless of the benefits, I think people should stick with one cup of coffee per day.

If you have a tall coffee at Starbucks about $3 per day $3 x 365 days= $1095 ...imagine how much money you can save by simply making your own coffee.

[MV]

Just like the title implies, I think it is all about moderation. Too much caffeine will definitely damage your system. Many studies investigating coffee and its effects on health show that problems arise when people have too much coffee and when they combine their excessive coffee drinking with other bad eating habits or lifestyle choices.

[Emily P.]

I personally dislike coffee, so I’m not really one to comment on its health benefits, although I can’t see how regularly drinking coffee can be good for your health. Most people load it up with sugar and cream, which contributes to obesity, on top of the negative effects you get from the caffeine. I think I’ve had two sips of coffee in my whole life, and I still wake up in the morning after six hours of sleep and get through my day. Your body can adjust to most things on its own.

[Paul]

Moderation is the key here, as others have stated. Especially, as Emily noted, with the additions to coffee. With the caramel and other sugar syrups added, then the cream, and cocoa and everything else added, a cup of coffee has as many calories and fat as lunch at a fast food place. I am more worried about the dietary consequences and addictive effects from the marketing to teens and pre-teens than about the acrylamide content.

[Anonymous]

Can anything addicting ever be good for your health? Coffee is a stimulant, which keeps you energized and more stimulated, especially when you do not get enough sleep. It will allow you to stay alert so that you can get work done to some extent. However, if it is consumed in large amounts, it impairs your memory and hinders your ability to learn and perform properly. So, by reducing the amount of acrylamide in the coffee, it may be helpful against possible damage to the nervous system, especially for the coffee lovers. However, reducing the amount of a substance will still produce harmful effects to a lesser extent. Consuming less of it is certainly better than consuming it in a large amount.