A LARGE-scale analysis has revealed a significant link between coffee consumption and the gut microbiome, driven primarily by the presence of Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus.
This multi-cohort study analysed over 22,000 participants from the USA and UK and integrated public data from 211 cohorts, encompassing 54,198 individuals.
The research demonstrated that coffee drinkers’ gut microbiomes were distinct from non-drinkers, with the abundance of L. asaccharolyticus 4.5 to 8 times higher among coffee drinkers. This association held true across varying levels of coffee intake and was consistent with estimated per capita coffee consumption in 25 countries. A total of 115 microbial species were positively associated with coffee intake (q<0.001), including species from the Faecalibacterium and Alistipes genera, though other previously reported genera, such as Bacteroides and Prevotella, were not confirmed in this study.
In vitro experiments showed that coffee stimulated the growth of L. asaccharolyticus, even at concentrations that inhibited other commensal species. Plasma metabolomics on a subset of 438 participants identified quinic acid, trigonelline, and other metabolites enriched in coffee drinkers, particularly those carrying L. asaccharolyticus. These metabolites are derived from coffee’s polyphenols, such as chlorogenic acid, which gut microbes extensively metabolise into compounds like caffeic acid, vanillin, and pyrogallol. Importantly, the microbial associations persisted with decaffeinated coffee, indicating a caffeine-independent mechanism.
The study highlights the role of specific gut bacteria, like L. asaccharolyticus, in mediating coffee’s metabolic and health effects. Most coffee-associated species belonged to uncharacterised bacterial families, emphasising the need for further research into their functions. These findings provide a framework for understanding how dietary components influence microbial communities and pave the way for exploring microbiome-targeted dietary strategies.
Reference
Manghi P et al. Coffee consumption is associated with intestinal Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus abundance and prevalence across multiple cohorts. Nat Microbiol. 2024; DOI:10.1038/s41564-024-01858-9.
