FYI.

This story is over 5 years old.

Food

This Is Why You Drink More Coffee Than Your Friends

A new study from Northwestern University has revealed the impact genetics have on the way we metabolize caffeine.

There's always that one guy who can't handle his drink. You know the type, half a cup down and bouncing off the walls like a five-year-old on blue Smarties. Some people just can't cope with drinking like a grown up.

And that's just after a single shot latte.

It goes without saying that caffeine affects us all differently—you need only compare those Italians sophisticatedly sipping espressos in outdoor cafes with the aforementioned hyped-up friend to realise that, but scientists at Northwestern University say they've figured out the reason behind this. And it's all down to your DNA.

Advertisement

READ MORE: Are You Actually 'Addicted' to Coffee? Some Experts Say No

While other studies have explored the link between genes and coffee consumption, the research from Northwestern, which was published a couple of weeks ago in Human Molecular Genetics journal, studied chemicals found in the blood after drinking coffee.

In the study of 9,876 participants, the researchers found that the genetic variants linked to low levels of chemicals in the blood after coffee consumption are the same as those associated with higher coffee consumption. Basically, if your body processes the caffeine more quickly, there'll be less of the chemicals present in your blood, and you'll probably reach for another mug of Joe.

The experiment also revealed a genetic variant not previously highlighted as playing a role in caffeine metabolism (gene CYP2A6, in case you were wondering). In the past, the gene has also been linked to nicotine metabolism and smoking behaviour.

READ MORE: Blame Your Coffee Addiction on Your Genes

In a press release, lead author of the study and assistant professor of preventative medicine at Northwestern, Marilyn Cornelis said that the results back up the findings of previous experiments: "The genetic research […] further re-emphasises the notion that not everyone responds to a single cup of coffee (or other caffeinated beverage) in the same way."

So, next time someone asks just how many trips to the kettle you've made today, you can blame it on your chromosomes. Don't listen to those "experts" who say the coffee addiction struggle isn't real.