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Coffee protects the body from ageing by binding to the NR4A1 receptor, a protein linked to stress regulation, inflammation, and cellular repair, a new study has found. <\/p>\n
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While research has associated coffee consumption with longer life and lower risk of chronic disease, exactly how those benefits occur has until now remained unclear, the study noted. <\/p>\n
Researchers at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) in the United States found that compounds in coffee bind to a receptor in the body known as NR4A1 , a protein linked to ageing, stress response, and disease<\/p>\n
\u201cCoffee has well-known health-promoting properties,\u201d said Stephen Safe, from VMBS. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019ve shown is that some of those effects may be linked to how coffee compounds interact with this receptor, which is involved in protecting the body from stress-induced damage.\u201d <\/p>\n
NR4A1 is a nuclear receptor that helps regulate gene activity in response to stress and damage in the body.<\/p>\n
The reseachers described it as a \u201cnutrient sensor\u201d, a receptor that responds to compounds found in the diet and plays a role in maintaining health as the body ages.<\/p>\n
The protein NR4A1 helps manage inflammation, energy levels, and tissue repair; all key factors in preventing conditions such as cancer and cognitive decline. <\/p>\n
In their study, the researchers found that specific coffee compounds, particularly polyphenols and polyhydroxylated constituents, bind to the receptor, influencing its activity. <\/p>\n
The team also found that these compounds could influence disease protection, including reducing cellular damage and slowing cancer cell growth.<\/p>\n
When NR4A1 was removed from cells, those protective effects disappeared, supporting the receptor\u2019s role in mediating coffee\u2019s impact.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you damage almost any tissue, NR4A1 responds to bring that damage down,\u201d Safe said. \u201cIf you take that receptor away, the damage is worse.\u201d <\/p>\n
Despite these findings, the researchers warn that coffee\u2019s health benefits are not limited to one pathway.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s still a lot of work to be done,\u201d Safe said. \u201cWe\u2019ve made the connection, but we need to better understand how important that connection is.\u201d <\/p>\n