New Study Suggests Coffee Consumption May Benefit Heart Health

 

Dr. Gregory Marcus, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, noted that while the latest study may reassure caffeine drinkers, it shouldn't be taken as a reason to start a new habit..Image Thought Catalog / Pexels 

A comforting revelation for coffee enthusiasts: drinking one to three cups of coffee daily may contribute to better heart health, according to new research. For those already in the habit of consuming moderate amounts of caffeine, this study offers reassurance. However, experts caution that it’s not necessarily an invitation for non-coffee drinkers to start a new routine. 

The research, led by Dr. Chaofu Ke, associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Soochow University in China, highlights the potential cardiovascular benefits of caffeine intake. Moderate consumption—defined as around three cups of coffee or tea per day—has been linked to a reduced risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (1) (CM), a condition where two or more cardiometabolic diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or hypertension occur simultaneously. 

"Coffee and caffeine consumption may play an important protective role in almost all phases of CM development," said Dr. Ke.

The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (2) , are based on data from over 180,000 individuals in the UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database that tracks participants over time. Notably, none of the participants had pre-existing cardiometabolic diseases at the beginning of the study. 

The study showed that those who drank moderate amounts of coffee or tea were significantly less likely to develop cardiometabolic multimorbidity. For example, drinking three cups a day reduced the risk by 48.1%, while consuming 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine daily lowered the risk by 40.7%, compared to individuals who drank less than one cup or abstained altogether.

Dr. Gregory Marcus, associate chief of cardiology for research at the University of California, San Francisco, praised the study’s methodology and its contribution to the growing body of evidence suggesting that caffeine could benefit heart health. "These observations add to the growing body of evidence that caffeine, and commonly consumed natural substances that contain caffeine such as tea and coffee, may enhance cardiovascular health," Marcus said.

Limitations and Caveats

Despite the promising results, experts are careful not to draw definitive conclusions from this study. Since it is observational, it can only establish a correlation, not causation, between caffeine consumption and improved heart health. Dr. Marcus emphasized the importance of caution before making any definitive claims. 

"It remains possible that the apparent protective effects do not truly exist at all, and that the positive associations are all explained by some as yet unknown or unmeasured true determining factor," Marcus noted. He also pointed out that factors such as diet and physical activity may play a role in the observed health benefits. 

Additionally, the study did not explore the impact of caffeine from sources like carbonated beverages or energy drinks. According to Dr. Ke, these sources may not provide the same benefits and could even have negative effects.

Past research has also indicated that caffeine could lower the risk of diabetes and even reduce abnormal heart rhythms. However, much of this research remains observational, and other studies show conflicting results, including mixed effects on physical activity and sleep quality.

Moderation is Key

While this new research may provide comfort to those who already enjoy their daily coffee or tea, it’s important not to overdo it. As Dr. Marcus pointed out, “more is not necessarily better.” 

High doses of caffeine, especially from artificial sources like energy drinks, have been linked to harmful side effects, including dangerous heart rhythm problems. So, while moderate consumption might benefit cardiovascular health, excessive intake could have the opposite effect. 

The new findings reinforce the potential benefits of moderate coffee and tea consumption for heart health, but more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between caffeine and cardiometabolic diseases. While habitual coffee drinkers can enjoy their daily brew with some peace of mind, those considering increasing their caffeine intake should be cautious. As with most things in health and nutrition, moderation is key.

Summary: 

Study Links Moderate Caffeine Intake to Lower Cardiometabolic Disease Risk

Recent research indicates that moderate caffeine consumption, roughly three cups of coffee or tea daily, may lower the risk of cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CM), which involves multiple cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The study, involving 180,000 participants from the UK Biobank, found a significant reduction in CM risk—48.1% for those consuming three cups daily.

Despite robust methodology and findings aligning with existing literature on caffeine's cardiovascular benefits, experts caution against inferring direct causation due to the observational nature of the study. Factors such as diet and physical activity might influence results. While the study offers reassurance for current caffeine consumers, it does not advocate for new caffeine habits, emphasizing moderation to avoid potential health risks associated with high caffeine intake, particularly from energy drinks.

References : 

* CNN , Drinking 1 to 3 cups of coffee a day may protect heart health 

1) NIH , Cardiometabolic multimorbidity, lifestyle behaviours, and cognitive function: a multicohort study

2) JCEM , Habitual Coffee, Tea, and Caffeine Consumption, Circulating Metabolites, and the Risk of Cardiometabolic Multimorbidity  By Madeline Holcombe