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Associations of black coffee and black coffee supplemented with milk with diabetes in China: A community-based cross-sectional study
Yi Zeng, Pei-Yi Li, Zhi Chen, Nan-Fang Yao, Hong Ye, Zi-Hao Gui, Hua-Lan Chen, Lan Liu, Heng Wan, Jie Shen
Yi Zeng, Nan-Fang Yao, Hua-Lan Chen, Jie Shen, School of Nursing, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong Province, China
Yi Zeng, Pei-Yi Li, Zhi Chen, Nan-Fang Yao, Hong Ye, Zi-Hao Gui, Hua-Lan Chen, Lan Liu, Heng Wan, Jie Shen, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of Shunde, Foshan 528308, Guangdong Province, China
Pei-Yi Li, Department of Nutrition, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of Shunde, Foshan 528308, Guangdong Province, China
Pei-Yi Li, Zhi Chen, Lan Liu, Heng Wan, Jie Shen, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center of Metabolic Disorders Interdisciplinary Precision Prevention and Digital Healthcare, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of Shunde, Foshan 528308, Guangdong Province, China
Co-first authors: Yi Zeng and Pei-Yi Li.
Co-corresponding authors: Heng Wan and Jie Shen.
Author contributions: Zeng Y and Li PY conducted the data analyses and drafted the manuscript; Chi Z, Yao NF, Ye H, Gui ZH, and Chen HL conducted the data acquisition; Wan H, Li L, and Shen J performed the conceptualization and revised the manuscript; All authors approved the final version to publish. Zeng Y and Li PY contributed equally as first authors. Shen J and Wan H made equal contributions as co-corresponding authors.
Supported by Foshan Self-Funded Science and Technology Innovation Projects, No. 2420001004610.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Shunde Hospital of Southern Medical University (No. 20211103.)
Informed consent statement: All study participants provided informed written consent prior to study enrollment.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
STROBE statement: The authors have read the STROBE Statement-checklist of items, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the STROBE Statement-checklist of items.
Data sharing statement: The data supporting the study findings are available from the corresponding authors upon reasonable request.
Corresponding author: Heng Wan, Associate Professor, Postdoc, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Eighth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, The First People’s Hospital of Shunde, No. 1 Jiazi Road, Lunjiao, Shunde District, Foshan 528308, Guangdong Province, China.
wanhdr@smu.edu.cn
Received: October 15, 2025
Revised: November 24, 2025
Accepted: February 4, 2026
Published online: March 15, 2026
Processing time: 149 Days and 0.5 Hours
BACKGROUND
Coffee consumption exhibits significant geographical variation between coffee and diabetes between China and Western countries. Furthermore, existing research on the relationship between coffee consumption and diabetes yields inconsistent results, with limited studies focusing on the Chinese population.
AIM
To investigate the association among coffee consumption, diabetes, and glucose indices among Chinese adults.
METHODS
A cross-sectional survey, involving 6876 individuals from the communities, was conducted in Guangdong, China. Participants provided detailed records of their coffee consumption, including any additives such as milk, sugar, or artificial sweeteners. Diabetic indicators measured included glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose, and 2-hour postprandial glucose (2h-PG). Statistical analyses were performed using multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for three categories of covariates: Demographic and anthropometric characteristics, lifestyle factors, and clinical and family history indicators.
RESULTS
In the adjusted model, coffee consumption was found to be inversely associated with the prevalence of diabetes, with an odds ratio (OR) of 0.79 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.64 to 0.98 (P = 0.029). Additionally, higher coffee consumption was inversely associated with elevated 2h-PG levels (OR = 0.83, 95%CI: 0.73-0.95; P = 0.005). Among individuals who consumed coffee with milk, the odds of elevated 2h-PG levels were reduced by 24% (OR = 0.76, 95%CI: 0.66-0.88; P < 0.001), and the odds of elevated HbA1c levels were reduced by 28% (OR = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.63-0.83; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Coffee consumption, particularly the intake of coffee with milk, is inversely associated with the prevalence of diabetes, elevated 2h-PG, and increased HbA1c levels. The intake of coffee with milk is a factor of interest in the context of diabetes prevention or glycemic control; however, this observation necessitates further validation through additional randomized controlled trials.
Core Tip: This community-based cross-sectional study in Canton, China, enrolled 6876 participants to explore the association between coffee consumption (including milk-added coffee) and diabetes prevalence as well as glucose metabolism. With relatively few relevant studies in China compared to European and American countries, results showed coffee and milk-added coffee were negatively correlated with diabetes, elevated 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, and elevated glycated hemoglobin levels.
