Regular consumption of coffee and moderate caffeine intake may significantly lower the risk of developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases, a new study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism has found.
Regular consumption of moderate amounts of coffee and caffeine can substantially decrease the risk of developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and stroke, according to new research published in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
The study revealed that individuals who consumed three cups of coffee or 200-300 mg of caffeine per day exhibited a significantly lower risk of new-onset cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CM). CM refers to the coexistence of at least two cardiometabolic diseases, posing an escalating public health issue as global populations age.
“Consuming three cups of coffee, or 200-300 mg caffeine, per day might help to reduce the risk of developing cardiometabolic multimorbidity in individuals without any cardiometabolic disease,” lead author Chaofu Ke, an associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University in Suzhou, China, said in a news release.
Ke’s team analyzed data from the UK Biobank, a comprehensive dietary study with over 500,000 participants aged 37-73 years, excluding individuals with ambiguous caffeine intake information.
The analysis included 172,315 participants free of cardiometabolic diseases at baseline for caffeine consumption and 188,091 for coffee and tea consumption.
The outcomes, identified through self-reported medical conditions, primary care data, hospital records and death registry data linked to the UK Biobank, showed an impressive inverse relationship between coffee and caffeine intake and the risk of new-onset CM. Moderate coffee or caffeine intake was inversely associated with almost all stages of CM development.
The team found that in comparison with non-consumers or those who consumed less than 100 mg of caffeine daily, individuals who consumed moderate amounts of coffee or caffeine had a 48.1% or 40.7% reduced risk of developing new-onset CM.
Coffee and caffeine intake from various sources were consistently indicated to offer a protective effect against the onset of these diseases. Encouraging moderate consumption could serve as an effective strategy for CM prevention.
“The findings highlight that promoting moderate amounts of coffee or caffeine intake as a dietary habit to healthy people might have far-reaching benefits for the prevention of CM,” Ke added.
This study addresses a crucial knowledge gap. Previous epidemiological studies had pointed out the protective effects of coffee, tea and caffeine against single cardiometabolic conditions. However, there was limited evidence on their influence on CM.
The need for this research is underscored by the severe impact of CM on public health. Individuals suffering from a single cardiometabolic disease already face doubled risks of all-cause mortality compared to their disease-free counterparts. Those with multiple ailments, however, have 4-7 times higher risks, compounded by significant losses in physical function and mental health.
This research was conducted by scientists from multiple institutions, including Soochow University, Suzhou Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Southern Medical University and Lund University.