Some days, it might feel like your morning coffee is keeping you alive. As it turns out, there could be some scientific truth to this.
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People who drink more coffee may have a reduced risk of dying from heart disease, according to a new study
According to data from more than half a million people, your daily coffee probably isn't killing you.
According to a large study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, people who drank more coffee had a reduced risk of death from all causes, particularly circulatory diseases and digestive illnesses.
This doesn't mean that coffee prevents you from dying. But the researchers do note that it should reassure people that their daily dose of caffeine isn't going to kill them, like some lifestyle blogs claim.
The scientists, from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and Imperial College London, analysed the effect of coffee consumption on the risk of death of over half a million (521,330) people aged 35 and over across 10 European countries. Participants were assessed with questionnaires and interviews about their diets and caffeine habits, and statistical adjustments were made for their lifestyle choices such as smoking and exercise.
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After 16 years the researchers followed up with the participants and found that the risk of diseases like heart disease, stroke, and liver disease were lower for those who consumed three or more cups of coffee a day compared to those who drank none. The risk was 18% lower for men, and 8% lower for women at any age.
However, it was unclear whether this was down to the drink itself — the researchers do not know what it is about the coffee that could be causing this effect. Interestingly, the connection was there even when the coffee consumed was decaf.
"Importantly, these results were similar across all of the 10 European countries, with variable coffee drinking habits and customs," said Marc Gunter from the IARC in a statement. Gunter is the lead author of the study and a doctor of cancer epidemiology and prevention. "Our study also offers important insights into the possible mechanisms for the beneficial health effects of coffee," he added.
The highest level of coffee consumption was reported in Denmark, at 900ml per day, while Italy was the lowest at 92ml per day. Coffee drinkers were shown to be younger, smokers, alcohol drinkers, and to eat more meat and less fruit and veg.
Within the study, 14,000 people were tested for biological indicators for why coffee might have a positive effect on the body. The researchers found that coffee drinkers could have healthier livers overall, and better glucose control — meaning their bodies were better at adjusting when they consume sugar.
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"We found that drinking more coffee was associated with a more favourable liver function profile and immune response," Gunter said. "This, along with the consistency of the results with other studies in the US and Japan, gives us greater confidence that coffee may have beneficial health effects."
The team now want to look into what compounds in coffee may be giving a potentially beneficial effect. However, due to the limitations and uncertainties remaining, they wouldn't recommend drinking more or less coffee as a result of this research — limitations such as coffee-drinking levels being self-reported, and the fact ill people may drink less coffee by default.
"Due to the limitations of observational research, we are not at the stage of recommending people to drink more or less coffee," Gunter said. "That said, our results suggest that moderate coffee drinking — up to around three cups per day — is not detrimental to your health, and that incorporating coffee into your diet could have health benefits."
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