Coffee lover’s cup size linked with genetics

Researchers have identified a gene that appears to curb coffee consumption.

People with a DNA variation in a gene called PDSS2 tend to drink fewer cups of coffee, a study has found.

Experts claim the findings suggest the gene reduces the ability of cells to breakdowncaffeine, which causes it to stay in the body for longer and means those affected get the same caffeine hit through less coffee.

One scientistworking on the project said it suggests the “drive to drink coffee may be in our genes”.

The researchers studied the DNA of 370 people living in a small village inItaly and 843 people from six villages in north-east Italy.

The subjects were asked to complete a survey including a question about how many cups of coffee they drank each day.

The team found people with the PDSS2 DNA variation tended to consume fewer cups of coffee than people without the variation.

Researchers replicated the study in a group of 1,731 people from the Netherlands. The result was similar but the effect of the geneonthenumberof cups of coffee consumed was slightly lower.

The scientists said the change could be down to the styles of coffee drunk in the two countries.

In Italy, people drink smaller cups whereas in the Netherlands the preference is towards larger cupswhich contain more caffeine.

Dr Nicola Pirastu, a Chancellor’s Fellow at Edinburgh University, said: “The results of our study add to existing research suggesting that our drive to drink coffeemaybeembedded in our genes.”

“Our drive to drink coffee may be in our genes”