The benefit of Coffee: cut the risk of developing multiple sclerosis

According to the last researches, which are involved the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Johns Hopkins University and the Berkeley University of California, drinking coffee every day could cut the risk of developing multiple sclerosis.

A clinical test in Europe and USA to prove the benefit of Coffee

Caffeine is known to have neuroprotective properties and has been shown to suppress inflammatory responses in the body. In this case, consuming more than 900ml may offer up to a 30% reduced risk of the condition, known as MS.

Researchers demonstrate the new discovery with two different studies: one in Sweden involved 1,620 adults with MS and a comparison group of 2,788 people without MS; the second was a US study of 1,159 people with MS and 1,172 healthy people.

In both studies, people were asked about their coffee consumption and how long they had been drinking coffee for. The researchers estimated coffee intake at and before the start of MS symptoms in those who developed the disease, and compared this with healthy groups. The results showed that the risk of MS was consistently higher among people who drank fewer cups of coffee every day in both studies, even after taking into account other factors that might influence the results.

Among those who drank more than six cups (more than 900ml) every day, there was a 28 per cent to 30 per cent lower risk compared with non-coffee drinkers. The conclusion of the study, published on Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, was:

In accordance with studies in animal models of MS, high consumption of coffee may decrease the risk of developing MS.

While more studies are needed, this study provides new evidence that the link between the risk of developing MS and coffee consumption is worth exploring.

If you want more information about coffee and you are interested about the history and way to enjoy the real Italian coffee, read the article Italian coffee culture: the espresso technology.