Is instant coffee bad for your eyes?
A new study suggests that drinking instant coffee could raise the risk of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a major cause of vision loss in older adults.
Interestingly, the study, published in the journal Food Science & Nutrition , found no similar risk with ground coffee, decaffeinated (decaf) coffee, or total coffee intake.
'AMD is a leading cause of vision loss among the elderly in developed countries,' study corresponding author Dr Liu Siwei from the Department of Ophthalmology of Hubei University of Medicine's Shiyan Taihe Hospital in China told Medical News Today .
'As there is currently no cure, identifying new modifiable factors is crucial for slowing disease progression, preserving vision and improving patients' quality of life.'
The researchers used the data of over 500,000 participants from the UK Biobank genome-wide association studies summary statistics.
They applied a method called Mendelian randomisation, which uses genetic differences to study cause and effect, similar to a clinical trial.
'Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide and is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants that may offer neuroprotective effects,' Dr Liu explained.
'At the same time, growing evidence shows that genetics influence dietary preferences.
'Studying the genetic predisposition to coffee consumption and its relationship with AMD risk may help reveal potential causal links between diet and eye diseases.'
The researchers believe that the increased risk may come from chemical changes, additives or byproducts formed during the processing of instant coffee – things that are not found in freshly-brewed coffee.
However, the team noted some limitations to their study, like using mostly European data and not having detailed information about different coffee types. – dpa
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
4 days ago
- Daily Express
China's Guizhou eyes strategic ties with Sabah
Published on: Thursday, July 24, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 24, 2025 Text Size: Liew (first right) in discussion with Liu Baochang and Datuk Frankie Liew. Kota Kinabalu: A delegation from the Guizhou Provincial Foreign Affairs Office visited Sabah on Tuesday with the aim of establishing a friendly provincial-state relationship with Sabah, marking a potential new chapter in bilateral cooperation between China's Guizhou Province and the Malaysian state. The proposal, which centres on strengthening ties in economy, culture, trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, was well-received by State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Christina Liew, and State Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship, Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe. The visit, facilitated by the Sabah China Chamber of Commerce (SCCC), saw the Guizhou delegation pay courtesy calls to both ministers to present the province's vision for collaboration. Leading the delegation, Deputy Director-General Liu Baochang outlined Guizhou's strengths, including its status as a hub for new energy, computing power infrastructure, scientific innovation, and liquor production, as well as being home to tech giants like Apple and Huawei, and the globally renowned 500-metre Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope, 'Sky Eye'. He said Guizhou is now actively expanding its reach to Central, South, and Southeast Asia, and sees Sabah as a strategic partner in the region. Liu also extended an invitation for Sabah leaders to visit Guizhou and witness firsthand the province's industrial and technological advancements. 'We hope to deepen and broaden cooperation in economic, cultural, and tourism fields, and establish a formal friendly relationship between our two governments,' Liu said. Christina welcomed the initiative, describing it as an opportunity to connect with one of China's dynamic provinces. 'This visit opens doors for greater understanding and collaboration, especially in areas like eco-tourism and the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme,' she said. She introduced Sabah's strengths in sustainable tourism, its rich biodiversity, and ongoing efforts to preserve indigenous cultures. She also revealed plans for a 65-acre Cultural Centre in Kinolok, where all 35 indigenous ethnic groups in Sabah will showcase their heritage, further enriching the state's tourism appeal. Meanwhile, Phoong highlighted Sabah's push toward industrialisation and infrastructure development, citing upcoming projects like the Pan Borneo Highway, airport expansions in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau, and the upgrading of Sepangar Port. 'Sabah is undergoing transformation through innovation and infrastructure. We see Guizhou as a valuable partner in this journey,' said Phoong, who also invited the delegation to participate in the 2nd Sabah-China Expo this November. He added that the state is working towards increasing its power supply by 700 megawatts by 2030, including launching Malaysia's first wind power plant. Datuk Frankie Liew, President of the SCCC, praised the high-level composition of the Guizhou delegation, which includes senior officials from the foreign affairs office, commerce department, and municipal governments. 'Sabah and Guizhou share similarities in natural resources and cultural heritage. With strong will from both sides, I believe we can foster pragmatic cooperation,' he said. He noted strong potential in areas such as ecological protection, creative industries, environmental technology, and green development, expressing confidence that the partnership would spur mutual growth. Also present during the visit were SCCC Deputy President Brett Chua, Vice President Ir. Ts. KJ Tan, JP, Datuk Jonathan Koh, JP, and officials from Invest Sabah including CEO Dr. Firdausi Suffian. The visit is seen as a stepping stone toward building a long-term cooperative relationship between Guizhou and Sabah, paving the way for increased economic opportunities and cultural exchange between the two regions. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
AstraZeneca vows to spend US$50bil on US manufacturing boost
LONDON: AstraZeneca Plc plans to invest US$50bil in the United States before 2030, becoming the latest European pharma company to ratchet up spending in the country ahead of potential tariffs on imported medicines. The investment will go towards manufacturing as well as research and development, Astra said in a statement. It includes US$4bil for a new facility in Virginia that will make drugs for chronic diseases, Kevin Hassett, director of the US National Economic Council, said on Monday at an event in Washington. 'With the completion of this investment, substantially all of AstraZeneca's pharmaceuticals sold in the United States will be produced in the United States,' he said. Astra will also manufacture its experimental weight-loss pill at the facility in Virginia, following an earlier pledge from rival Eli Lilly & Co, which is also planning to make its obesity pill in the United States. The announcement comes as European drug companies rush to highlight their US investments with the aim of mitigating the impact of tariffs from President Donald Trump. Astra already announced plans in November, a week after Trump's election, to invest US$3.5bil in the United States by the end of 2026, noting at the time that it employs nearly 18,000 people in the country. The company said the latest investment announcement is in addition to that earlier amount. Since Trump's election, European competitors have touted ever-larger spending plans. Switzerland's Novartis AG in April announced plans for US$23bil in US-based infrastructure spending, while cross-town rival Roche Holding AG said it would invest US$50bil. In May, French drugmaker Sanofi announced intent to invest at least US$20bil in the United States by 2030. Pascal Soriot, who's been chief executive officer of Astra since 2012, had urged tariff restraint from US policymakers. This spring, he recommended that US officials exempt medicines from tariffs, arguing that tax incentives are a better way to attract investment in drug development and manufacturing. On Monday, Soriot said he understands the need for countries to have medicines manufactured domestically. 'It's a question of national security,' he said. 'This is a vision that the president and his administration have put out there, and a vision that we totally understand, totally support, and the tariffs are accelerating a movement that we would have made in any case.' Trump has proposed various timelines for tariffs on pharmaceuticals, most recently floating duties that would start as soon as Aug 1. The president said he expects to give companies a year to bring manufacturing to the United States before imposing tariffs as high as 200%. Meanwhile, Soriot has raised concerns in the United Kingdom about his company's commitment to its home country. He has long complained about the United Kingdom's regulatory environment, which he says is a threat to hold the nation back from staying competitive with the United States and China. In January, Astra abandoned plans for a £450mil vaccine manufacturing plant in Liverpool. The company operates 17 manufacturing sites in 12 US states. Earlier this month, British paper The Times reported that Soriot is considering moving the company's stock listing to the United States. — Bloomberg
Sinar Daily
20-07-2025
- Sinar Daily
Scientists find oldest trace of plague bacterium from 5,500 years ago
The earliest evidence of zoonotic diseases - illnesses transmitted from animals to humans - dates back to about 6,500 years ago and became more widespread about 1,500 years later. 20 Jul 2025 08:00pm A computer screen shows a human skull in a laboratory. (Photo by Roland DE COURSON / AFP) COPENHAGEN - A large-scale study of human disease dating back 37,000 years of harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites that have afflicted humans for millennia has revealed that the first evidence of the plague bacterium occurred some 5,500 years ago, reported German Press Agency (dpa). The study mapped an entire catalogue of infectious diseases by analysing DNA of bones and teeth from 1,313 individuals who lived across Europe and Asia (Eurasia) from the Early Stone Age, around 12,500 years ago, to about 200 years ago, with the oldest sample dating as far back as 37,000 years ago. The study detected the world's oldest genetic trace of Yersinia pestis, the plague bacterium, in a sample dating back 5,500 years. The plague is estimated to have killed between one-quarter and one-half of Europe's population during the Middle Ages. - AFP file photo for illustration purpose only The researchers found that the earliest evidence of zoonotic diseases - illnesses transmitted from animals to humans - dates back to about 6,500 years ago and became more widespread about 1,500 years later. "We've long suspected that the transition to farming and animal husbandry opened the door to a new era of disease. Now, DNA shows us that it happened at least 6,500 years ago," said Professor Eske Willerslev, from the universities of Cambridge and Copenhagen. "These infections didn't just cause illness - they may have contributed to population collapse, migration, and genetic adaptation." The study detected the world's oldest genetic trace of Yersinia pestis, the plague bacterium, in a sample dating back 5,500 years. The plague is estimated to have killed between one-quarter and one-half of Europe's population during the Middle Ages. It also found traces of diphtheria going back 11,000 years, hepatitis B going back 9,800 years, and malaria 4,200 years ago. In total, researchers identified 214 known human pathogens in prehistoric humans from Eurasia. The study was published in the journal Nature on Wednesday. - BERNAMA-dpa
