Coffee, type 2 diabetes and pancreatic islet function – A mini-review

Abstract Caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumption has increasingly been linked to reduced risks of type 2 diabetes. The condition is characterised by insulin resistance and pancreatic beta cell loss and dysfunction, leading to hyperglycaemia. Recent research has indicated that coffee components such as chlorogenic acid derivatives and cafestol positively modify the regulation of blood glucose levels in peripheral tissues. Taking into consideration bioavailability of coffee bioactives, this mini-review evaluates the pros and cons of individual components and their combinations and highlights some of their significant effects on insulin secretion. Although the loss and/or dysfunction of beta cells is a key element in type 2 diabetes, little is known about the impact of coffee components on the regulation of beta cell mass, including survival under conditions of hyperglycaemia, lipotoxicity and inflammation. Further investigations are warranted in particular with regards to use of physiologically relevant concentrations and conjugated forms of the bioactive components.