Drinking coffee in the morning has become a habit many people, even some of them to addiction. Not only the habits and the effects of caffeine, coffee addiction it can also be influenced by genes.
Genetics may help determine how much caffeine is needed by the body. New research suggests there are two different genes that can determine the amount of caffeine a person needs.
The study found that people who carry a gene called 'high-consumption' suggests a desire to drink more coffee, compared with people who carry the gene 'low-consumption'.
"Genetics plays a big role in many behaviors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption and turns genetics also play a role in how much caffeine we drink," said Dr. Neil Caporaso, branch chief of Genetic Epidemiology at the National Cancer Institute, as reported from Epharmapedia, Wednesday (07/03/2011).
Both genes are labeled CYP1A2 and AHR. CYP1A2 is associated with the process by which caffeine is metabolized, whereas the AHR that regulates the activity of CYP1A2. These genes appear to be responsible for inherited differences in the way people drink coffee.
Based on all the data, Dr. Caporaso and colleagues found that the research group carrying CYP1A2 genotype consumed more caffeine. While carrying the gene AHR consume 40 mg of caffeine more than those carrying genotype 'low-consumption'.
However, the study is somewhat biased because even though the gene under study is a gene that metabolizes caffeine, but the gene is not only metabolize caffeine alone.
Meanwhile, Dr. John J. Mulvihill, a member of the American College of Genetics and professor of pediatrics at the University of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City, described the investigation as caffeine can be another block in the body that resembles the drug.
With these findings, one day the patient or the physician is expected to raise the issue of an unusually sensitive to caffeine.
Caffeine is not only contained in coffee, but also in many other foods and beverages. Globally, caffeine is the most popular psychoactive substance, with 90 percent of people in the world eat.