Study links coffee consumption to metabolic health and sex hormones

A Finnish study of 2,264 participants found that higher coffee consumption was associated with healthier body composition, lower visceral fat, greater skeletal muscle mass, and improved metabolic markers like lower branched-chain amino acids linked to insulin resistance. The research revealed distinct sex-specific hormonal associations, with men showing stronger links between coffee consumption and favorable glucose-insulin profiles and higher testosterone levels, while women showed more limited hormonal changes primarily involving sex hormone-binding globulin. Though the study demonstrates associations rather than cause-and-effect relationships, the findings suggest hormonal pathways may partially explain coffee's previously documented health benefits.