Study shows drinking coffee in the morning linked to lower cardiovascular risk
Both moderate (two to three cups) and heavy (more than three cups) morning coffee drinkers benefited from these health advantages.
Drinking coffee in the morning may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and reduce overall mortality rates compared to consuming coffee throughout the day, according to a recent study conducted by Tulane University
Published in the European Heart Journal, the research found that individuals who limited their coffee intake to the morning experienced better heart health and lower mortality rates than those who avoided coffee entirely.
More To Read
Lead author Dr Lu Qi, HCA Regents Distinguished Chair and professor at Tulane University’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, explained that previous research has shown coffee consumption does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and may even reduce the risk of chronic conditions like diabetes.
“We wanted to explore whether the timing of coffee consumption has an impact on heart health,” said Dr. Qi.
The study analyzed data from 40,725 adults who participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2018.
Researchers examined the timing of coffee consumption and its connection to health outcomes, particularly the risk of death from cardiovascular disease.
Participants in the study were grouped into three categories: 36 per cent were morning coffee drinkers (consuming coffee before midday), 16 per cent drank coffee throughout the day, and 48 per cent did not drink coffee at all.
The study found that those who drank coffee in the morning had a 16 per cent lower risk of dying from any cause and a 31 per cent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to non-coffee drinkers. In contrast, individuals who drank coffee throughout the day showed no reduction in risk.
Health advantages
Both moderate (two to three cups) and heavy (more than three cups) morning coffee drinkers benefited from these health advantages. However, light morning drinkers (one cup or less) experienced a smaller reduction in risk.
While the study indicates potential heart health benefits for morning coffee drinkers, Dr Qi pointed out that further research is necessary to understand why the timing matters. He speculated that consuming coffee later in the day might interfere with circadian rhythms and disrupt melatonin levels, potentially affecting factors like inflammation and blood pressure, which could influence cardiovascular risk.
“This is the first study to examine the relationship between coffee consumption timing and health outcomes,” Dr. Qi said. “Our findings suggest that it’s not just the quantity of coffee consumed, but also the time of day. Although dietary guidelines typically don’t address the timing of coffee, our research suggests this may be an important factor to consider moving forward.”
A 2023 study published in the National Library of Medicine supports the current research on coffee's health benefits. conducted between 2000 and 2021 have indicated that regular coffee consumption is linked to a reduced risk of hypertension, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation.
However, the findings regarding coffee's effect on coronary heart disease risk remain inconsistent. Most studies show a J-shaped relationship, where moderate coffee consumption lowers the risk of coronary heart disease, while heavy coffee consumption increases it.
Additionally, the study notes that the way coffee is prepared plays a significant role in its impact on health. Boiled or unfiltered coffee, which contains a high level of diterpenes, is more atherogenic, potentially disrupting lipid metabolism by inhibiting bile acid synthesis.
In contrast, filtered coffee, which lacks these compounds, offers anti-atherogenic benefits by enhancing cholesterol efflux via high-density lipoprotein (HDL), influenced by plasma phenolic acids.
Overall, moderate coffee intake is associated with a decrease in all-cause and cardiovascular-related mortality, as well as improvements in hypertension, cholesterol levels, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. However, a clear and consistent link between coffee consumption and coronary heart disease risk has yet to be definitively established.
