Could coffee drinking help protect against an early death?

Jun 25, 2008 11:50 AM

I'm a long-time green-tea drinker. And each time a study has touted the health benefits of my favorite morning beverage, I've smugly given myself a pat on the back for (quite inadvertently) making a healthy choice.

Coffee drinkers, however, haven't had as many opportunities for self-congratulations, as studies have alternately labeled coffee drinking a virtue or a vice. But some recent studies have given coffee-lovers more reason to savor their cup of joe, with reports that coffee drinkers may be less likely to get heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.

The newest study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, suggests that long-time coffee drinkers have a slightly lower chance of dying earlier than expected, mainly because they are less likely to die from heart disease. Researchers found that women coffee drinkers were most likely to benefit. Men who drank coffee also had a slightly lower chance of dying, but the difference was very small and could have been due to chance.

Interestingly, the results were similar whether people drank regular or decaf coffee, suggesting that something in the coffee other than caffeine might have a beneficial effect.

What you need to know. If you drink coffee, these findings might have you brewing up another pot or two. The researchers caution, though, that more studies are needed before we know for sure whether drinking coffee can help protect against an early death from heart disease or anything else. The study also didn't look at how much coffee might be healthy to drink. And for those of us who like our beverages loaded, too much caffeine can cause headaches, restlessness, anxiety and lost sleep, among other problems.

So, as with most things, moderation is probably the wisest approach.

—Sophie Ramsey, patient editor, BMJ Group

ConsumerReportsHealth.org has partnered with The BMJ Group to monitor the latest medical research and assess the evidence to help you decide which news you should use.

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