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Coffee helps protect your body from aging and disease, study says
Researchers found that caffeic and chlorogenic acids, plus kahweol and cafestol, activated NR4A1 and reduced inflammation in lab models.
Researchers at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences discovered that coffee compounds bind to the NR4A1 receptor, a protein linked to aging, stress response, and disease.
Stephen Safe, distinguished professor and chair in VMBS, described NR4A1 as a "nutrient sensor" that responds to dietary compounds and helps regulate gene activity during stress and tissue damage.
While caffeine is the major component, researchers found that polyphenols are "much more active," explaining why both regular and decaffeinated coffee show similar health benefits in population studies.
Because NR4A1 manages inflammation and tissue repair, Safe's team is exploring synthetic compounds targeting the receptor more effectively than natural dietary options for treating cancer and disease.
Despite these findings, Safe noted there is "still a lot of work to be done," as the study is mechanistic and does not yet prove direct cause-and-effect in humans.