Coffee vs Tea and Homocysteine

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Plumster
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Coffee vs Tea and Homocysteine

Post by Plumster »

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and interested in learning from you all regarding the benefits of coffee versus tea as a preventive strategy.

Some research suggests that coffee raises the homocysteine levels of those with a C677T gene mutation and that tea lowers it. (I have that gene mutation.) Yet I read that coffee is highly preventive for those with an e4 gene. And then Dr. Breddesen recommends tea as a preventive measure rather than coffee. What do you find to be the most up to date and accurate scientific evidence regarding tea versus coffee?

Thanks!
e3/4 MTHFR C677T/A1298C COMT V158M++ COMT H62H++ MTRR A66G ++ HLA DR
apod
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Re: Coffee vs Tea and Homocysteine

Post by apod »

I've also read that many of the benefits from green tea are from a folate-blocking mechanism:

The antifolate activity of tea catechins: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15781612

Maternal Tea Consumption during Early Pregnancy and the Risk of Spina Bifida: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4557736/
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Julie G
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Re: Coffee vs Tea and Homocysteine

Post by Julie G »

Welcome, Plumster! I'm unaware that Dr. B is opposed to coffee. What do you mean when you suggest that he prefers tea as a "preventative"?
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slacker
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Re: Coffee vs Tea and Homocysteine

Post by slacker »

Plumster wrote: Some research suggests that coffee raises the homocysteine levels of those with a C677T gene mutation and that tea lowers it. (I have that gene mutation.) Yet I read that coffee is highly preventive for those with an e4 gene.
Our wiki lists a few studies on caffeine that may cover what you are looking for; you can find it here. If the studies you are referring to aren't listed, providing references would be very helpful.

We also have a member who is an expert on homocysteine. She has a wiki entry on the subject that you can find here. I haven't read it carefully, so am not sure if it includes information on coffee and tea for C677T carriers.
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SusanJ
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Re: Coffee vs Tea and Homocysteine

Post by SusanJ »

Don't have any specific info on the methylation wiki about coffee or tea. The studies don't seem to be in any agreement.

So here are two of the latest research examples:

Coffee not good:
Coffee also have harmful effects. For example, diterpenoid alcohols increases serum homocysteine and cholesterol levels and thus it has adverse effects on cardiovascular system.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28853910

Coffee okay:
In conclusion, coffee intake of 1-3 cups/day and its polyphenols were associated with lower odds of elevated SBP, DBP, and hyperhomocysteinemia.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5372939/

My best guess is that MTHFR is likely to be a bigger factor on your homocysteine, along with other methylation variants. You can find more at https://wiki.apoe4.info/wiki/Methylation

If you are concerned about your own response to coffee, you could test your homocysteine and just see what drinking coffee does to your levels.
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Re: Coffee vs Tea and Homocysteine

Post by Roamingseer »

Personally, I have a strong response to most coffe, including decaf, that triggers rosacea.
Here is a link to Dr. Greger’s video on homocysteine. Pretty interesting but nothing about tea or coffee.
https://nutritionfacts.org/video/preven ... -vitamins/
Plumster
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Re: Coffee vs Tea and Homocysteine

Post by Plumster »

Thanks all! Also thanks for the links.

Julie G.: In Dr. Bredesen's book The End of Alzheimer's, he recommends tea. He says coffee is okay, but he prefers tea. I couldn't find an explanation for his preference.
Slacker: I will post my links to scientific articles if they aren't listed already.
Susan J: I got my homocysteine checked in November when I drank coffee and it was 10.8. I plan to get it checked again in April and have now switched to tea. I am not taking folate supplements, because I am COMT++ and can't do methyl donors well. I am unsure whether to supplement with folate currently or just get it from my diet (or folinic acid).
Roamingseer: I love Dr. Gregor's videos! He's my hero.
e3/4 MTHFR C677T/A1298C COMT V158M++ COMT H62H++ MTRR A66G ++ HLA DR
Plumster
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Re: Coffee vs Tea and Homocysteine

Post by Plumster »

I would love your feedback and what I should do to lower homocysteine? I get quite a bit of folate in my (plant-based) diet, but my folate absorption is reduced by at least 40% due to MTHFR mutations. My B12 is high. I see that the link above recommends methyl B12 and methyl folate. I'm not sure these are right for me, but if they are, where would I find methyl B12 in such low doses?
My homozygous mutations are:
COMT V158M rs4680 AA +/+
COMT H62H rs4633 TT +/+
VDR Taq rs731236 AA +/+
MTRR A66G rs1801394 GG +/+
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Re: Coffee vs Tea and Homocysteine

Post by Nancy »

I just finished Bredesen’s new book and was wondering the same thing. I was considering switching to tea, as it is listed as a better option than coffee. It is a “green light” choice in the food chart. My homocysteine isn’t too bad but my hsCRP is.
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Re: Coffee vs Tea and Homocysteine

Post by apod »

SusanJ wrote:Don't have any specific info on the methylation wiki about coffee or tea. The studies don't seem to be in any agreement.

So here are two of the latest research examples:

Coffee not good:
Coffee also have harmful effects. For example, diterpenoid alcohols increases serum homocysteine and cholesterol levels and thus it has adverse effects on cardiovascular system.
I wonder if a thick paper filter would help to reduce this side effect. If I recall, the main diterpenoids that float on top of coffee are largely filtered out. (I use a Chemex.)
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