Filtered Coffee Linked to Slower Ageing
Filtered coffee consumption was associated with slower biological ageing than instant coffee in a large UK study. However, researchers cautioned that the findings show an association and do not prove that brewing method directly changes the ageing process.
Filtered Coffee and Biological Ageing
Researchers analysed health and dietary data from 49,414 participants in the UK Biobank. They compared coffee habits with three recognised measures of biological ageing, including telomere length and two estimates calculated from clinical biomarkers.
People drinking filtered coffee generally showed lower biological-age acceleration than non-coffee drinkers. The association appeared stronger among participants consuming more filtered coffee, with those drinking over three cups daily showing the largest difference.
Filtered coffee may retain beneficial compounds, including antioxidants and polyphenols, while paper filters remove certain substances such as diterpenes that can raise cholesterol.
Instant Coffee Ageing Findings
Instant coffee showed the opposite pattern in parts of the analysis. Participants drinking more than three cups daily had slightly higher biological-age acceleration than non-coffee drinkers.
Researchers suggested that differences in processing, antioxidant content and the presence of additives could contribute to the contrasting results. Lifestyle and dietary differences among instant and filtered coffee drinkers may also have influenced the findings.
The study identified inflammation, kidney-function markers and basal metabolic rate as possible pathways connecting coffee type with biological ageing.
Coffee Study Needs Further Research
The research was observational and relied partly on participants reporting their coffee consumption. It cannot establish that filtered coffee slows ageing or that instant coffee accelerates it.
Coffee intake should also be considered alongside caffeine sensitivity and existing health conditions. Excessive consumption can cause anxiety, digestive problems, disturbed sleep or heart palpitations.
Further clinical studies are needed before filtered coffee can be recommended specifically as an anti-ageing intervention.
