ISLAMABAD, JAN 10 (ONLINE): Numerous studies have examined the effects of coffee drinking every day on heart health.
\nA new study from researchers at Tulane University for the first time shows the importance of coffee drinking time on health outcomes, rather than just the amount consumed.
\nScientists found those who drink coffee in the morning have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those who drink throughout the day.
\nOver the last few years, there have been a number of studies examining the potential health benefits and drawbacks of daily coffee drinking on heart health.<\/p>\n
On the positive side, studies published in 2024 found that drinking coffee may help negate some of the harmful health effects of living a sedentary lifestyleTrusted Source and consuming caffeine may help improve vascular health.<\/p>\n
Other research in 2024 reported some potential downsides, such as chronically drinking high amounts of caffeine at least five days a week may increase a person\u2019s heart disease risk, and too much coffee may increase a person\u2019s stroke risk.<\/p>\n
Scientists have also examined the potential benefits of coffee drinking on non-heart related health issues, such as a study published in December 2024 that found drinking coffee and tea was correlated to lower risk of developing head and neck cancerTrusted Source.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a body of studies on the effects of coffee drinking on human health; however, all these previous studies only test the amount of coffee consumption,\u201d Lu Qi, MD, PhD, HCA Regents Distinguished Chair and professor at the Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University in New Orleans explained to Medical News Today. \u201cTo date no study has investigated the effects of the time of coffee drinking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Qi is the lead author of a new study recently published in the European Heart Journal that for the first time shows the importance of coffee drinking time on health outcomes \u2014 both cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality risk \u2014 beyond the amount of coffee consumption.<\/p>\n
Reduced heart disease, all-cause death risk for morning coffee drinkers
\nFor this study, Qi and his team analyzed data from more than 40,000 adults who took part in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)Trusted Source between 1999 and 2018.<\/p>\n
Participants were asked to detail the food and drink they ate for at least one day, including their coffee consumption. A sub-group of about 1,500 participants were also asked to document their food and beverage consumption for a full week.<\/p>\n
Upon analysis, researchers found that participants who drank coffee in the morning were 31% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease and a 16% reduced risk in all-cause mortality risk.<\/p>\n
These benefits were seen in morning coffee drinkers regardless if they were moderate drinkers \u2014 two to three cups \u2014 or heavy drinkers \u2014 more than three cups \u2014 a day. There was only a small risk benefit for light morning drinkers who drank one cup of coffee or less.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur data indicates that drinking coffee in [the] morning only may strengthen the beneficial effects; while late drinking may minimize the benefits. Our results indicate that drinking in the morning is particularly beneficial for moderate and heavy drinkers (2 or more cups),\u201d Qi said.<\/p>\n
Why might morning coffee drinking be more beneficial?
\nAlthough Qi and his team did not investigate how drinking coffee in the morning might offer better cardiovascular benefits than drinking it at other times of the day, Qi said that previous studies have shown late coffee drinking may disturb sleeping, which is at least in part account for the lack of benefit of all-day coffee drinking.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been known human health including cardiovascular health is closely related to (the) body\u2019s circadian rhythm regulation,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cFood eating and beverage drinking are key circadian time cues. While most nutrition studies focus on the quantity of dietary intakes, few investigate the circadian patterns of food\/beverage intakes. Coffee affects sleeping and various circadian rhythm related hormones such as melatonin, cortisol, and inflammation markers, which are relevant to heart health.\u201d
\n\u2014 Lu Qi, MD, PhD<\/p>\n
\u201cPrior evidence has also shown the benefits of coffee drinking on metabolism including metabolic factors related to cardiovascular health such as lowering glucose and adverse lipids. Our study indicates that drinking coffee in the morning may strengthen such benefits,\u201d Qi added.<\/p>\n
When should I drink coffee?
\nMNT had the opportunity to speak with Cheng-Han Chen, MD, a board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, CA, about this study.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve known for a while now about the health benefits of coffee drinking. This is the first indication that the timing of coffee drinking may have an impact on the actual health benefits, namely, that you get the health benefit only if you are a morning coffee drinker. It certainly throws a new perspective on how we may potentially recommend coffee drinking for its health benefits.\u201d
\n\u2014 Cheng-Han Chen, MD<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t really understand why coffee drinking might be better in the morning,\u201d he continued. \u201cIt actually may be that the health benefits of coffee are negated by the negative consequences of drinking coffee at other times of the day, such as the afternoon or evening, in the sense that coffee drinking at those later times would be more likely to disrupt the body\u2019s natural rhythms, what we call circadian rhythms, and potentially even lead to sleep disturbances.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSleep disturbances in itself could end up having harmful effects on the body, which then negate the positive benefits of coffee drinking. It would be nice to have prospective data regarding the effects of the timing of coffee drinking on health outcomes,\u201d\u00a0Chen\u00a0added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD, JAN 10 (ONLINE): Numerous studies have examined the effects of coffee drinking every day on heart health. A new study from researchers at Tulane University for the first time shows the importance of coffee drinking time on health outcomes, rather than just the amount […]<\/p>\n
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