Regular coffee consumption linked to altered gut motility and increased microbiome diversity

A study by the University of Copenhagen, published in the journal Gut Microbiology, examined how regular coffee intake influences digestive function. Researchers equipped 61 healthy Danish adults with a swallowable electronic capsule that recorded transit time, temperature, acidity and intestinal contractions as it moved through the gastrointestinal tract. Participants were divided into two groups: one that consumed one to five cups of coffee per day on most study days, and another that drank coffee less often. The findings indicated that regular coffee consumers had significantly higher diversity of gut microorganisms, lower acidity in the small intestine, and a greater number of colon contractions compared with the lower-consumption group. > "Regular coffee consumption seems to affect the physiology of the intestines," said Francesca Bucci, lead researcher and PhD student in the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports. She added that increased colon contractions may support digestion and help maintain regular bowel movements. Henrik Munch Roager, associate professor and head of the research group, noted that earlier research shows coffee influences digestive processes such as stomach acid secretion, suggesting the observed differences are likely linked to coffee rather than coincidence. The team plans a controlled trial to determine whether coffee directly causes these changes and to clarify the underlying mechanisms.