Coffee may have more benefits than just waking you up, study finds

According to new research, a cup of coffee in the morning can do more than just wake you up.

Moderate amounts of caffeine intake — defined as about three cups of coffee or tea per day — were associated with a lower risk of developing cardiometabolic multimorbidity, said the study’s lead author, Dr. Chaofu Ke, an associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Soochow University in Suzhou, China.

Cardiometabolic multimorbidity, or CM, is the coexistence of at least two cardiometabolic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

“Coffee or caffeine consumption may play an important protective role in almost every stage of MC development,” Ke said.

Researchers analyzed data from about 180,000 people in the UK Biobank, a large biomedical database and research resource that follows people over the long term. Those involved did not have cardiometabolic diseases at baseline.

The database information included participants’ self-reported caffeine consumption from coffee, black or green tea, and the cardiometabolic diseases they developed, along with data from primary care, hospital records and death certificates. The study was published Tuesday. in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism of the Endocrine Society.

Moderate caffeine consumers had a reduced risk of new-onset cardiometabolic multimorbidity. The risk was reduced by 48.1 percent if they drank three cups a day, or 40.7 percent if they drank 200 to 300 ml of caffeine daily, compared with people who drank no caffeine or less than one cup, Ke said.

The study had a large sample size and used multiple biomarkers to support the findings, making it a strong look at how caffeine affects heart health, said Dr. Gregory Marcus, associate chief of cardiology for research and professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He was not involved in the research.

“These observations add to the growing body of evidence that caffeine and commonly consumed natural substances that contain caffeine, such as tea and coffee, can improve cardiovascular health,” Marcus said in an email.

What researchers don’t know

The methodology is strong and the results are in line with existing data on caffeine and heart health, but questions remain about the extent of the connection between caffeine and heart health, Marcus said.

“It is important to emphasize that although these data suggest a relationship between caffeine, tea or coffee and a reduced risk of a combination of cardiovascular diseases, we need to be cautious before inferring true causal effects,” Marcus said.

Because the study is observational, it can only show a connection between caffeine and heart health, he said. Other factors may actually be the cause of the improved heart health, he added.

“It is still possible that the apparent protective effects do not actually exist and that all of the positive associations are explained by some yet unknown or unmeasured true determinant,” Marcus added.

“For example, perhaps those more likely to consume these substances also tend to have a healthier diet or be more physically active,” he explained.

The study also did not take into account the impact of caffeine in carbonated or energy drinks, meaning researchers cannot say whether those substances would also have a positive effect, Ke said.

Should you start drinking coffee?

There are many studies that show benefits of caffeine consumption.

Several studies have suggested a lower risk of diabetes, Marcus said. And contrary to popular wisdom, drinking coffee is associated with a lower risk of abnormal heart rhythms, he added, pointing to his research and that of others.

But much of this research is observational, and one of the studies showed a mixed result, with more caffeine associated with more daily steps but less sleep, Marcus said.

While the new study should comfort those who already have a coffee or tea habit, it’s not necessarily a sign to start a regular caffeine routine, he said.

“It’s also important to note that more is not necessarily better,” he said. “While caffeine, coffee and tea in the amounts described in this study are indeed healthy, there is also strong evidence that high doses of caffeine, particularly when included in artificial blends like energy drinks, can actually cause harmful and even dangerous heart rhythm problems.”

Genetics may influence whether coffee is good or bad for your health, study says

This content was originally published in Coffee can bring more benefits than just waking you up, according to a study on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil