Genome-Wide Association Studies of Coffee Intake in UK/US Participants of European Ancestry Uncover Gene-Cohort Influences.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages. We performed a genome-wide association study ( GWAS ) of coffee intake in US-based 23andMe participants ( N =130,153) and identified 7 significant loci, with many replicating in three multi-ancestral cohorts. We examined genetic correlations and performed a phenome-wide association study across thousands of biomarkers and health and lifestyle traits, then compared our results to the largest available GWAS of coffee intake from UK Biobank (UKB; N =334,659). The results of these two GWAS were highly discrepant. We observed positive genetic correlations between coffee intake and psychiatric illnesses, pain, and gastrointestinal traits in 23andMe that were absent or negative in UKB. Genetic correlations with cognition were negative in 23andMe but positive in UKB. The only consistent observations were positive genetic correlations with substance use and obesity. Our study shows that GWAS in different cohorts could capture cultural differences in the relationship between behavior and genetics.
Competing Interests: Competing interests PF and SLE are employees of 23andMe, Inc., and hold stock or stock options in 23andMe. AAP is on the scientific advisory board of Vivid Genomics for which he receives stock options.