Following components of the scientific method in this experiment are broken down to better understand its use:
Observation: Scientists probably noticed that people who drink coffee regularly have lesser problems of diabetes. This is what scientists first see.
Question: Does coffee affect the condition of diabetes in people and if so, does it help control the blood glucose level in people? The answer to this question will become the basis of the experiment.
Hypothesis: Drinking coffee helps control blood glucose level in diabetic patients. An educated guess answering the question they have.
Experiment Design: Humans are mammals so mice are obtained that mimic the mammalian function to be used as test groups for this experiment. Diabetes is induced in the mice because that is the condition that is in question and has to be treated. The dependent variable, therefore, is the blood glucose level in mice. The independent variable is the coffee, because that is going to affect the blood glucose level. Two groups are formed where the mice that are given the water is the control group, whereas the mice that are given diluted coffee are the treatment group. The sample size are different for each group. 10 mice are in the control group whereas 11 mice are in the treatment group. The constant variables in this experiment are the diets and the living conditions. After 5 weeks, the control group showed a heightened level of blood glucose whereas the treatment group showed a significant decrease of blood glucose in comparison to the control group. This suggests that coffee attributes to the decrease of blood glucose in mice and keep the levels in control. The diabetic mice that were given water were not able to control their blood glucose levels because water did not have any affect on blood glucose.
The sample size was rather small in both groups. In addition, the control group had less mice than the treatment group. For results to be statistically significant, the control and treatment group should both have had equal number of subjects. There should have been at least 100 mice in each group for result to be significant. A limitation here is the use of mice as subject matters. The experiment does not conclude whether the same results would be seen in humans with diabetes after been given coffee. Another limitation may be the use of coffee that could interfere with other body systems in a negative way that this study may not have tested.
The relevance of this experiment is great. It is a step to treat hyperglycemia in patients with the use of a simple and widely available ingredient. The next step could be to isolate the exact substance that interferes with lowering blood glucose levels and incorporating it into a medicine. This would result in a cost effective method to control hyperglycemia. This study is important personally because I have a family history of diabetes and this study is a step forward to the awareness of lowering blood sugar through caffeine.
Reference List
Steps of the Scientific Method. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2016, from http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_scientific_method.shtml
RongYing, L., Kazuhiro, O., & Yechoor, V. (2012, October 10). JoVE | Peer Reviewed Scientific Video Journal - Methods and Protocols. Retrieved March 21, 2016, from http://www.jove.com/visualize/abstract/20405946/coffee-caffeine-ameliorate-hyperglycemia-fatty-liver-inflammatory
Coffee - Nature's Cure. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2016, from http://coffee-naturescure.blogspot.com/
Coffee and caffeine ameliorate hyperglycemia, fatty liver, and inflammatory adipocytokine expression in spontaneously diabetic KK-Ay mice.
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.
How to critique a journal article - UIS. (n.d.). Retrieved March 21, 2016, from http://www.uis.edu/ctl/wp-content/uploads/sites/76/2013/03/Howtocritiqueajournalarticle.pdf
