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Opioid peptides have been identified in coffee
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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In Brazil, a group of specialists made an unexpected discovery: coffee has a similar effect on the human body as morphine.
In the research centers of the state university and the Brazilian Institute, a group of scientists, after a detailed study of the structure of coffee, concluded that the protein in its composition acts on the body as a strong painkiller, similar to the way morphine works.
As the analysis showed, coffee contains an unusual protein that has a narcotic effect, and it was established that the principle of action of the protein is the same as that of morphine.
The researchers conducted experiments on laboratory rodents, which showed that opioid peptides, which are natural biological molecules, most likely had a longer effect on mice, compared to morphine itself. According to Brazilian experts, the discovery made by their group has "biotechnological potential" for the food industry, especially in the field of healthy nutrition. The scientists also believe that their discovery can be useful for slaughterhouses, since animals transported to slaughter experience severe stress, which does not have a good effect on the quality of meat.
It should be noted that the narcotic effect of coffee was discovered by the research group by accident. Scientists were studying the functional genome of coffee trees (experts were studying methods of connecting coffee genes) and the purpose of the study was to improve the quality of coffee, but in the process of work, the experts made a completely unexpected discovery. The group of scientists has already filed applications to patent their discovery (opioid peptides that were found in coffee).
The solidified milky juice is the source of morphine (the most common method of obtaining it). The juice is released when cutting the unripe capsules of a certain type of poppy (opium). The solidified juice is called opium, in its raw form it contains from 10 to 20% morphine, other types of poppy contain lower concentrations of morphine.
Morphine is the main alkaloid of opium, with the average opium containing 10% morphine, much higher than other alkaloids.
This discovery confirms the fact that coffee lovers can develop a real withdrawal syndrome. Psychotherapists even attributed the symptoms that often occur when a person stops receiving caffeine to special mental disorders. These changes were made to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Physicians on Mental Disorders at the request of specialists.
Typically, abruptly giving up coffee causes headaches, fatigue, depression, and problems with concentration.
It is also worth noting that morphine, which is compared to the peptides found in coffee, also causes withdrawal symptoms in patients.
In other studies, researchers found that moderate coffee consumption reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. And another expert group stated that drinking coffee is a good preventative for type II diabetes, and will also help maintain normal weight.
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