Caffeine Consumption
What makes some people caffeine fanatics, while others go easy on the java? Genetic factors help explain how much caffeine people tend to consume.
Laila, based on your genetics, you are likely to drink less caffeine than average, if you drink caffeine at all.
23andMe research participants with your genetic result who consume caffeine regularly tend to drink the equivalent of about a quarter of a cup of coffee (39 mg of caffeine) less than average per day. Of course, not everyone chooses to consume caffeine, but for those who do, their genetics may play a role in the amount they consume.
What you can do
If you consume caffeine, current guidelines recommend that healthy adults drink no more than about three 12-oz cups of coffee or eight 8-oz cups of tea per day. And since caffeine hangs around in your system for several hours, consider avoiding caffeine starting mid-afternoon or earlier if you want a good night's sleep.
Genetics and Caffeine
How does caffeine keep you awake?
Does caffeine enhance performance?
How much is too much?
Other factors that affect caffeine consumption
This report does not diagnose any health conditions or provide medical advice. Consult with a healthcare professional before making any major lifestyle changes or if you have any other concerns about your results.
Caffeine consumption and metabolism are influenced by genetic markers near the CYP1A2 and AHR genes.
The CYP1A2 gene contains instructions for an enzyme that breaks down many substances, including caffeine. This enzyme is a member of a large family of enzymes called cytochrome P450.
You have zero variants associated with consuming more caffeine.
*This test cannot distinguish which copy you received from which parent. This test also cannot determine whether multiple variants, if detected, were inherited from only one parent or from both parents. This may impact how these variants are passed down.
23andMe always reports genotypes based on the 'positive' strand of the human genome reference sequence (build 37). Other sources sometimes report genotypes using the opposite strand.
References
- Coffee and Caffeine Genetics Consortium et al. (2015). "Genome-wide meta-analysis identifies six novel loci associated with habitual coffee consumption." Mol Psychiatry. 20(5):647-56.
- Cornelis MC et al. (2016). "Genome-wide association study of caffeine metabolites provides new insights to caffeine metabolism and dietary caffeine-consumption behavior." Hum Mol Genet. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddw334.
- Fredholm BB. (2011). "Notes on the history of caffeine use." Handb Exp Pharmacol. (200):1-9.
- Huang ZL et al. (2005). "Adenosine A2A, but not A1, receptors mediate the arousal effect of caffeine." Nat Neurosci. 8(7):858-9.
- James JE and Rogers PJ. (2005). "Effects of caffeine on performance and mood: withdrawal reversal is the most plausible explanation." Psychopharmacology (Berl). 182(1):1-8.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture (December 2015). "2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans." Retrieved June 29, 2020, from http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines.
- Zhou SF et al. (2009). "Insights into the substrate specificity, inhibitors, regulation, and polymorphisms and the clinical impact of human cytochrome P450 1A2." AAPS J. 11(3):481-94.