Coffee May Be Unexpected Protectant Against COVID-19 Infection (2024)

Rich in polyphenolic compounds like chlorogenic acid (CGA), coffee may help ward off COVID-19 infection in the post-pandemic era.

It’s possible your morning cup of coffee can do more than just wake you up. According to a recent study published in BMC’s Cell & Bioscience journal, drinking 1 to 2 cups per day could curb COVID-19 infection, offering potential protection against various COVID strains like the Omicron variant.1

Since late 2020, many COVID variants have spread globally, with recent reports revealing the Omicron variant has at least 32 mutations in its spike protein, double that of the Delta variant.

As COVID-19 boosters evolve to address the increasing amount of cases, it's important to note that diet, along with the latest preventive measures, plays a role in combating COVID infection.

Research has suggested that engaging in regular physical activity and maintaining a diet rich in polyphenols can affect the immune system, change immune escape properties and reduce the risk of severe COVID.

However, previous studies have also found that coffee consumption is associated with reduced COVID risk.

Coffee, also rich in polyphenolic compounds like chlorogenic acid (CGA), caffeic acid (CAA), cafestol, melanoidins and trigonelline, has been recognized as a dominant source of CGA in various studies.

Previous studies suggest that CGA in coffee can positively impact blood pressure, lipid profile, glycemia and insulin resistance, contributing to the improvement of metabolic syndrome and enhancing metabolism, inflammation, cardiovascular health and liver function.

Though, further studies have yet to demonstrate the exact mechanism that coffee stops the binding of COVID to host cells.

In the BMC human trial study, researchers observed data from the UK Biobank to find that coffee can be a new strategy to reduce COVID infection by blocking spike protein ACE2 interaction, slowing down TMPRSS2 and CTSL activity and ridding the protein level of TMPRSS2 and ACE2.

Using the HRMS-exploring-recombination-examining method, researchers discovered that isochlorogenic acid A, B, and C in coffee restrict COVID infection (43–54% efficiency), as well as decaffeinated coffee.

In the trial of 64 people, consuming 1–2 cups of coffee per day proved effective in stopping entry for multiple COVID variants.

However, for the Omicron variant, previous articles pointed out that this variant has more mutations and a higher ability of immune escape than other variants. This results in many strategies potentially being ineffective or having poor responses to stop the infection from the Omicron variant.

Despite that, authors of the BMC study discovered that consuming coffee within 6 hours is crucial, with a recommendation to have another cup after this period for better chances to stop the infection.

Authors propose a strategic coffee-drinking plan as a preventive measure for individuals in the post-COVID era.

This article originally appeared in Managed Healthcare Executive.

Reference
1. Wu CS, Li YC, Peng SL, et al. Coffee as a dietary strategy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cell Biosci. 2023;13(1):210. Published 2023 Nov 14. doi:10.1186/s13578-023-01154-9
Coffee May Be Unexpected Protectant Against COVID-19 Infection (2024)

FAQs

Is coffee good for preventing COVID? ›

Conclusions: This study verified moderate coffee consumption, including decaffeination, can provide a new guideline for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2. Based on the results, we also suggest a coffee-drinking plan for people to prevent infection in the post-COVID-19 era.

Is coffee antiviral? ›

Caffeine, but not quinic acid and chlorogenic acid, inhibited the virus multiplication to some extent, but none of them showed the virucidal activity, suggesting that other component(s) in the coffee extracts must play a role in the observed antiviral activity.

What is the most effective way to prevent COVID-19? ›

The most effective way to avoid getting COVID-19 is to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Other ways to avoid COVID-19 are to: Avoid close contact with anyone who is sick or has symptoms. Wash your hands often using soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Is it bad to drink coffee when sick? ›

Drinking coffee is fine if you have a cold or a mild illness, but more severe illnesses accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea can lead to dehydration. However, if you are a regular coffee drinker, you can continue to drink coffee during more severe illness without side effects.

What is the best thing to take to reduce COVID symptoms? ›

How to treat COVID-19 symptoms at home
  • get lots of rest.
  • drink plenty of fluids (water is best) to avoid dehydration – drink enough so your pee is light yellow and clear.
  • take paracetamol or ibuprofen if you feel uncomfortable.

What foods and drinks should you avoid if you have COVID-19? ›

If you're wondering what to eat with COVID, many whole foods—like fruits and whole grains—and dairy products can contain nutrients beneficial to immune system functioning while you're sick. Other foods and drinks, such as sweets and sodas, can be less helpful.

Does coffee bring your immune system down? ›

Comparatively, within the acquired immune system, the caffeine content within coffee potentially suppresses the proliferation of Th1 and Th2 cells. As a result, coffee can reduce the damage caused by the release of cytokines due to overactive T- and B-cells.

Does caffeine help viruses? ›

Recently, caffeine has taken on an essential role in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 since it can play a role in the defense against this virus [6,7,36].

What is alternative antiviral for COVID? ›

The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) recommends using molnupiravir 800 mg orally (PO) twice daily for 5 days as an alternative therapy in nonhospitalized patients aged ≥18 years with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of disease progression when ritonavir-boosted nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid) and ...

How to prevent catching COVID after exposure? ›

After you have been exposed to COVID-19 or another respiratory virus, it can be especially helpful to use respiratory virus prevention strategies, such as wearing masks, taking steps to improve air flow and filtration, practicing good hand hygiene, cleaning regularly, physical distancing, and/or testing.

How to protect your body from COVID? ›

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you have symptoms of acute respiratory illness.

How to get rid of COVID? ›

Many people with COVID-19 get better with rest, fluids and treatment for their symptoms. Medicine you can get without a prescription can help. Some examples are: Fever reducers.

Can I drink coffee if I have COVID? ›

Initial studies have shown that this ingredient may reduce inflammation and help assist with your immune system's response to the virus. While these findings are still very preliminary, it appears coffee is ok to drink while infected.

Can you drink coffee with an upper respiratory infection? ›

It's fine to drink coffee if you're dealing with a mild cold or illness, but more severe illnesses that are accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea can lead to dehydration — and drinking coffee may compound these effects.

Is coffee bad if you feel sick? ›

A cup or two of coffee per day while you are sick can help to encourage your immune system while it's battling illness.” A study done by psychologists at the University of Bristol also found that the caffeine in coffee reduces the general grogginess associated with colds.

What are the best ways to help your body fight COVID-19? ›

Lifestyle changes
  1. Exercising to improve your circulation and the flow of resources.
  2. Getting adequate, quality sleep to help your body repair and regenerate.
  3. Reducing stress to balance your metabolic system.
  4. Drinking water so body processes work properly, including transporting immune cells.

How to counteract long COVID? ›

Depending on your symptoms, treatment options might include:
  1. Medication. Providers can treat certain symptoms and conditions, like cough, headaches, anxiety and depression with medication. ...
  2. Stellate ganglion block or olfactory retraining. ...
  3. Physical therapy. ...
  4. Pulmonary rehabilitation. ...
  5. Counseling.

How long are you contagious with COVID? ›

Many people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days, but you can be infectious for up to 10 days.

How long does it take to get over COVID-19 in 2024? ›

With Mild Symptoms

Mild to moderate illness from COVID-19 usually lasts an average of 10 days. For some people, symptoms fade in a matter of days; for others, it takes weeks.

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