Study Reveals the Unexpected Link Between Coffee, Body Fat, and Testosterone in Men

• Coffee and testosterone in men
• Lower body fat
• Changes in metabolism

A cup of coffee may be associated with more than just staying awake: research conducted in Finland found associations between higher coffee consumption, lower body fat, greater muscle mass, and changes in metabolic and hormonal indicators, particularly among men.

The study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition and reported by FOX 17, cautions that the findings do not prove that drinking coffee directly causes these changes, so the conclusions should be interpreted carefully.

Do You Drink Coffee Every Day? Study Reveals Unexpected Effects on Men’s Bodies

1. The Study Analyzed More Than 2,200 Adults

Researchers analyzed data from 2,264 adults who were part of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, whose health data were collected when they were 46 years old, in 2012.

To examine potential differences, participants were divided according to their usual coffee consumption:

• No coffee per day.
• Between 1 and 2 cups.
• Between 3 and 4 cups.
• 5 or more cups.

Coffee consumption was common among the participants, with only 70 people reporting that they did not drink it.

Researchers examined body composition, blood sugar and insulin levels, cholesterol, sex hormones, and other indicators related to metabolism.

They also analyzed 164 lipid and metabolic measurements in the blood using nuclear magnetic resonance testing.

2. More Coffee Was Associated With Lower Body Fat

One of the most striking findings was not directly related to testosterone, but rather to body composition.

People in the higher coffee-consumption groups tended to have:

• Lower body fat percentage.
• Lower total fat mass.
• Less visceral fat.
• Greater skeletal muscle mass.

One important detail is that body mass index (BMI) was similar across the different groups.

This means the observed differences did not necessarily indicate that people who drank more coffee weighed less. Instead, their body composition tended to include less fat and more muscle.

3. Coffee and Testosterone in Men Showed a Notable Association

The study also found a particular relationship between coffee consumption and male sex hormones.

Among men, total testosterone generally increased as coffee consumption rose, and those who drank moderate or high amounts had significantly higher levels than those who did not drink coffee.

The association remained after researchers adjusted for factors including BMI, education, smoking, physical activity, and alcohol consumption.

For each additional cup of coffee consumed per day, the study found an association with an increase of approximately 0.29 nanomoles per liter of total testosterone.

But there is an important detail: this does not automatically mean that drinking coffee increases the amount of testosterone available for the body to use.

4. Higher Total Testosterone Did Not Mean More Free Testosterone

Researchers also found that higher coffee consumption was associated with higher levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) and lower levels of free testosterone and the free androgen index among men.

SHBG is a protein that binds to sex hormones in the bloodstream.

For that reason, although total testosterone was higher among some coffee drinkers, that increase did not translate into a greater amount of free testosterone.

In other words, the findings on coffee and testosterone in men are more complex than simply saying that “coffee increases testosterone.”

Researchers describe the findings as part of a broader hormonal pattern that could be related to metabolic health.

5. The Results Were Different in Women

The association found between coffee and testosterone was not replicated in the same way among female participants.

Higher coffee consumption was associated with higher SHBG levels and lower levels of free testosterone and the free androgen index.

However, researchers did not find the same association with total or bioavailable testosterone that was observed among men.

For that reason, researchers believe the hormonal findings show sex-specific differences.

6. Coffee Was Also Associated With Insulin Levels

Another notable finding involved how the body manages blood sugar, particularly among men who consumed more coffee.

Higher coffee consumption was associated with:

• Lower fasting insulin levels.
• Lower insulin levels during glucose tests.
• Lower indicators of insulin resistance.
• Greater insulin sensitivity.

Lower levels of several branched-chain amino acids, known as BCAAs, were also observed, including leucine, isoleucine, and valine.

Although these amino acids play a role in metabolism and elevated levels have been linked in previous research to insulin resistance and other metabolic conditions, this study only identified associations.

7. The Study Does Not Prove That Coffee Is the Cause

This is one of the study’s main limitations and is essential to understand before interpreting the findings as a recommendation to drink more coffee.

The study was cross-sectional, meaning researchers analyzed participants’ consumption habits and health measurements at a specific point in time.

Because of this, researchers can identify relationships between different factors, but they cannot establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship.

The research also lacked detailed information about the exact size of each cup, brewing method, type of coffee bean, or added ingredients such as milk and sugar.

In addition, participants self-reported the amount of coffee they consumed.

The conclusion: The study does not establish an ideal amount of coffee or prove that increasing consumption reduces body fat, improves metabolism, or raises testosterone.

Researchers say long-term studies and controlled experiments will be needed to determine whether coffee actually causes any of these changes and which of its components might be involved.

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Warning: This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The findings discussed reflect associations observed in a study and do not prove that coffee causes these effects.

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How many cups of coffee do you drink per day, and have you noticed any changes in your energy, weight, or overall well-being?

SOURCE: FOX 17 (WZTV) and study published in the European Journal of Nutrition.