Drinking coffee has several potential benefits, including protection against diabetes and liver disease. Now scientists say it may actually be good for your heart, too, according to a new report.
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Researchers from Alfred Hospital and Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Australia recently conducted a review, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, to determine how caffeinated products affect the cardiovascular system.
To do so, they looked at 11 international studies that assessed the data of more than 360,000 people with heart issues, including atrial fibrillation, a type of arrhythmia that causes irregular heart beat.
After analyzing the results, they found a study, involving more than 288,000 patients, that showed caffeine reduced atrial fibrillation frequency by 6 percent. Another, which included about 116,000 people, revealed it reduced it by 13 percent.
A further analysis, which followed about 100 post-heart attack patients, also discussed the benefits of caffeine. Patients that received an average of 353 milligrams daily, the equivalent of three cups of coffee, had no significant irregular heartbeat. In fact, analysts said their heart rate had improved.
Caffeine is a stimulant that has been previously linked with speeding up your heart rate. However, the scientists believe it may also contain properties that suppress the effects of the chemical that causes atrial fibrillation.
Laurence Sperling, cardiologist at Emory Heart & Vascular Center, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the results were “interesting.”
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He acknowledged that there is a concern that caffeine is associated with increased heart rate but said “the available data raises a question.”
“This is a good review,” he said. “Although it does not support the use of caffeine as anti-arrhythmic, it does temper the concerns for the usual population. I think it’s reasonable to drink a serving or several servings of coffee or tea as there appears to be some potential benefits. Whether that’s related to the caffeine is unclear.”
Although their findings are strong, more research is needed to better understand the pros and cons of caffeine, Sperling said.
“We have to be caution,” he advised. “The highest level of evidence would be a study with randomized people and several cups of coffee versus coffee without caffeine to explore the pure benefits of caffeine.”
In the meantime, the scientists noted drinking a maximum of three cups of coffee or tea a day is safe for the general population. Patients already diagnosed with heart issues should consult their doctor before making any changes.
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