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.
Lehnanne, based on your genetics, you are likely to drink slightly more caffeine than average, if you drink caffeine at all.
23andMe research participants with your genetic result who consume caffeine regularly tend to drink just a little bit more than average (10 mg of caffeine) 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 two variants associated with consuming more caffeine.
rs2472297
C
T
See all information
rs2472297
C
T
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Biological explanation
The genetic marker we tested near CYP1A2 comes in two versions, the C variant and the T variant. The T variant is associated with consuming more caffeine. This genetic marker is located in a region of DNA that may help control how much CYP1A2 enzyme is made from the CYP1A2 gene. This marker has been studied the most in people of European descent.
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Typical vs. variant DNA sequence(s)
C
Typical SequenceSubstitutionT
Variant Sequence -
Percent of 23andMe customers with variant
Variant: T
European 41.6%African American 13.4%Ashkenazi Jewish 14.0%East Asian 0.1%Hispanic or Latino 26.6%South Asian 6.6%Middle Eastern 6.9% -
References [ 1, 7 ]
rs4410790
C
T
See all information
rs4410790
C
T
-
Biological explanation
The genetic marker we tested near AHR comes in two versions, the C variant and the T variant. The C variant is associated with consuming more caffeine. This marker has been studied the most in people of European descent.
-
Typical vs. variant DNA sequence(s)
T
Typical SequenceSubstitutionC
Variant Sequence -
Percent of 23andMe customers with variant
Variant: C
European 85.6%African American 73.4%Ashkenazi Jewish 70.3%East Asian 66.7%Hispanic or Latino 71.0%South Asian 67.1%Middle Eastern 77.9% -
References [ 1, 7 ]
*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.