Coffee as a dietary strategy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection

Chen-Shiou Wu; Yi-Chuan Li; Shin-Lei Peng; Chung-Yu Chen; Hsiao-Fan Chen; Po-Ren Hsueh; Wei-Jan Wang; Yen-Yi Liu; Ciao-Ling Jiang; Wei-Chao Chang; Shao-Chun Wang; Mien-Chie Hung

doi:10.1186/s13578-023-01154-9

Coffee as a dietary strategy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection

Cell Biosci. 2023 Nov 14;13(1):210. doi: 10.1186/s13578-023-01154-9.

Authors

Chen-Shiou Wu^#^{1

2}, Yi-Chuan Li^#³, Shin-Lei Peng^#^{4

5}, Chung-Yu Chen², Hsiao-Fan Chen^{1

2}, Po-Ren Hsueh⁶, Wei-Jan Wang^{2

3}, Yen-Yi Liu⁷, Ciao-Ling Jiang^{1

2}, Wei-Chao Chang⁸, Shao-Chun Wang^{1

2

8

9

10}, Mien-Chie Hung^{11

12

13

14

15

16}

Affiliations

¹ Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
² Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
³ Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁵ Neuroscience and Brain Disease Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁶ Departments of Laboratory Medicine and Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University Taichung, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁷ Department of Biology, National Changhua University of Education, Changhua, Taiwan.
⁸ Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁹ Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
¹⁰ Cancer Biology and Precision Therapeutics Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
¹¹ Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. mhung@cmu.edu.tw.
¹² Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. mhung@cmu.edu.tw.
¹³ Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. mhung@cmu.edu.tw.
¹⁴ Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan. mhung@cmu.edu.tw.
¹⁵ Cancer Biology and Precision Therapeutics Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. mhung@cmu.edu.tw.
¹⁶ Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. mhung@cmu.edu.tw.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: To date, most countries lifted the restriction requirement and coexisted with SARS-CoV-2. Thus, dietary behavior for preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection becomes an interesting issue on a daily basis. Coffee consumption is connected with reduced COVID-19 risk and correlated to COVID-19 severity. However, the mechanisms of coffee for the reduction of COVID-19 risk are still unclear.

Results: Here, we identified that coffee can inhibit multiple variants of the SARS-CoV-2 infection by restraining the binding of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and reducing transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) and cathepsin L (CTSL) activity. Then, we used the method of "Here" (HRMS-exploring-recombination-examining) and found that isochlorogenic acid A, B, and C of coffee ingredients showed their potential to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection (inhibitory efficiency 43-54%). In addition, decaffeinated coffee still preserves inhibitory activity against SARS-CoV-2. Finally, in a human trial of 64 subjects, we identified that coffee consumption (approximately 1-2 cups/day) is sufficient to inhibit infection of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 entry, suggesting coffee could be a dietary strategy to prevent SARS-CoV2 infection.

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.

Keywords: ACE2; Cathepsin L; Coffee; SARS-CoV-2; TMPRSS2.

Abstract

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