Understanding Your Caffeine Metabolism Gene

You probably know someone who can drink a double espresso at 9pm and sleep like a baby, while you are still buzzing from your afternoon coffee at midnight. The difference often comes down to a single gene: CYP1A2.

CYP1A2: Your caffeine processing gene

CYP1A2 encodes a liver enzyme responsible for metabolizing roughly 95% of the caffeine you consume. How quickly this enzyme works determines whether you are a fast metabolizer or a slow metabolizer.

The SNP: rs762551

The key variant is rs762551 (also known as CYP1A2*1F):

• AA genotype: Fast metabolizer. You clear caffeine quickly. Moderate coffee consumption (3-4 cups/day) has actually been associated with reduced cardiovascular risk in studies.
• AC or CC genotype: Slow metabolizer. Caffeine stays in your system longer. Higher coffee intake has been associated with increased cardiovascular risk in some studies.

Practical takeaways

If you are a slow metabolizer, you may want to limit caffeine intake, especially in the afternoon and evening. If you are a fast metabolizer, moderate coffee consumption may actually be beneficial. Either way, knowing your genotype helps you make an informed choice.

Check your status

CYP1A2 is one of the SNPs GenomeHack analyzes in the free DNA Snapshot. Upload your raw data and find out in under a minute.