September 20, 2024 — Global
A new study reveals that your morning cup of coffee may do more than simply wake you up—it could help protect against a range of heart and metabolic diseases. According to the research, moderate consumption of coffee or tea, defined as around three cups a day, is associated with a reduced risk of developing cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CM), a condition where an individual has two or more cardiometabolic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, or type 2 diabetes.
The study, led by Dr. Chaofu Ke, associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Soochow University in Suzhou, China, analyzed data from approximately 180,000 participants in the UK Biobank, a biomedical research database that follows individuals over time. None of the participants had cardiometabolic diseases at the start of the study.
“Coffee and caffeine consumption may play an important protective role in almost all phases of CM development,” Dr. Ke said.
A Lower Risk with Moderate Consumption
The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, suggest that those who consumed moderate amounts of caffeine had a significantly lower risk of developing CM. Specifically, individuals who drank three cups of coffee or tea daily saw a 48.1% reduced risk of new onset cardiometabolic multimorbidity, compared to those who consumed less than one cup. Consuming 200 to 300 milligrams of caffeine per day also lowered the risk by 40.7%.
Dr. Gregory Marcus, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, who was not involved in the study, said these results align with the growing body of evidence that caffeine-containing beverages may support 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 stated.
Questions Remain About Caffeine’s Role
While the study highlights a potential link between caffeine and improved heart health, experts caution against making definitive conclusions. As Dr. Marcus points out, the study is observational, meaning it can only show a correlation, not causation. “It remains possible that the apparent protective effects do not truly exist and that positive associations are explained by other, unknown factors,” Marcus explained. For instance, those who consume coffee may also maintain healthier lifestyles, which could be responsible for the improved heart health outcomes.
Additionally, the study did not examine caffeine consumption from sources like energy drinks or sodas, raising questions about whether all forms of caffeine would have similar benefits.
Should You Drink More Coffee?
Despite the promising results, experts warn against overindulging. While moderate caffeine intake may offer health benefits, high doses, particularly from energy drinks or artificial sources, can have negative effects. “More is not necessarily better,” Marcus emphasized, citing research that links excessive caffeine consumption with dangerous heart rhythm issues.
For now, those who enjoy their daily coffee or tea can take comfort in the possibility that their habit may support long-term heart health. However, Marcus advises against starting a caffeine routine purely based on this study, noting that the best approach is moderation.
With more research needed to clarify caffeine’s exact impact on cardiometabolic health, the findings offer an intriguing look into how a common morning ritual might be providing more than just an energy boost.