Coffee appears to rewire the gut-brain connection (opens in new tab)

(sciencedaily.com)

13 pointsloh7d ago7 comments

7 comments

Comes the newest research focus with a decline in caffeine consumption (in the younger generation)? Is this part of a strategic move to reframe coffee as a general 'feel good' product instead of the efficiency connotation it has today?

cadamsdotcom7d ago

> coffee was gradually reintroduced without participants knowing whether they were drinking caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee. Half received decaf, while the others consumed regular coffee. Both groups reported improvements in mood, including lower levels of stress, depression, and impulsivity. These results suggest that coffee can enhance mood even without caffeine.

Or it just suggests people are creatures of habit and comforts :)

gnabgib7d ago

Seems similar to last year's Coffee drinking habits may greatly impact makeup of gut biome (48 points, 24 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42251379

Last year's wasn't funded by Scientific Information on Coffee

This paper (open): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-71264-8

Paper from 2024 (open): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-024-01858-9

dartharva7d ago

> ..The findings, published in Nature Communications and supported by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee (ISIC)..

Hmm

vivzkestrel7d ago

so how come IBS-C has a problem with coffee then?

WorldMaker7d ago

Because the IBS gut biome needs more than just mood enhancement/comfort/lessened stress and anxiety?

Also from what I can tell in my skimming the study mostly focused on small (decaf) amounts of caffeine in the gut biome. There are still more components of coffee such as bitter compounds that presumably have other effects.

ggm7d ago

My assumption was the bitter compounds would be flavenoids but it seems this is not true. I'd say bitterness isn't of itself material to IBS its an effect higher in the gut tract. Gall for instance is very bitter and acrid, but necessary for digestion.

What is material is that coffee has a lot of interesting components beside caffeine.

However, I believe my rapid fight/flight gut emptying impulse after a cup probably is the caffeine.

(I have disregulated gut, my gut man (who said the disposable sigmoidoscope revolutionised his speciality) said I was just shy of IBS)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse