Coffee and Blood Glucose in Mice
Researchers recently investigated
(see summary in http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/06/100609111316.htm)
in laboratory mice whether or not coffee prevented the development of high
blood sugar (hyperglycemia). The mice used in this experiment have a mutation
that makes them become diabetic.
Study: A group of 11 mice were
given water and another group of 10 mice were supplied with diluted black
coffee (coffee:water 1:1) as drinking fluids for five weeks. The composition of
the diets and living conditions were similar for both groups of mice. Blood
glucose was monitored weekly for all mice. After five weeks, there was no
change in average body weight between groups. Results indicated that blood
glucose concentrations increased significantly in the mice that drank water
compared with those that were supplied with coffee. Finally, blood glucose
concentration in the coffee group exhibited a 30 percent decrease compared with
that in the water group.
Questions:
1. What was the hypothesis of this
experiment? (Reminder: Hypothesis is a statement.) What question(s) was (were)
the investigator asking?
2. Which is the control group?
Why?
3. Which is the treatment group?
Why?
4. Did the researchers follow the
scientific method in their experimental design? Explain.
5. Do you think that there may be
any possible biases or other problems in this experiment? Explain.
6. Based on the data, was the
hypothesis supported, and what can you conclude from this experiment?
Reference: Yamauchi et al. (2010).
Coffee and caffeine ameliorate hyperglycemia, fatty liver, and inflammatory
adipocytokine expression in spontaneously diabetic KK-Ay mice. Journal of
Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 58 (9), 5597-5603. May 12, PMID: 20405946,
ISSN: 1520-5118.
