New Data Shows That Coffee Consumption May Be Associated With A Lower Risk Of Coronary Heart Disease In Women

Main Category: Heart Disease
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Nutrition / Diet;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 08 Dec 2009 - 8:00 PST

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A meta-analysis of a number of cohorts studies published in the International Journal of Cardiology1 demonstrates that habitual coffee consumption may be associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in women.

Analysis of data from 21 cohort studies showed that moderate coffee consumption (of up to four cups of coffee per day) were associated with a 18% reduction in risk of CHD in women1. The investigators note that such an effect was unlikely to be caused by chance.

These new findings are particularly important as:

• Coronary heart disease is the UK's biggest killer, with one in every six women dying from the disease2


• In women, cardiovascular disease (CVD), including CHD and stroke, accounts for more deaths across all ages than cancer, diabetes or respiratory disorders3

Dr Euan Paul, Executive Director of the British Coffee Association, commented, "A large number of studies have addressed coffee consumption and the risk of CHD, but have not provided definitive results. This study demonstrates that not only does coffee consumption not increase the long-term risk of CHD, but that moderate coffee consumption may actually reduce the risk of the disease in women. These data further demonstrate that moderate coffee consumption of four to five cups per day is safe and may even confer certain health benefits such as reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes and, as shown in this study, may even reduce risk of CHD in women. As advised by the Food Standards Agency guidelines, pregnant women should moderate their intake of caffeine to 200mg per day from all sources."

It is also worth noting that earlier in the year, data published in Circulation also suggested that coffee consumption may be associated with a 19% reduction in risk of stroke in women4.

References

1. Wu, J. Coffee consumption and risk of coronary heart diseases: A meta-analysis of 21 prospective cohort studies. International Journal of Cardiology 2009 137:216-225
2. Coronary Heart Disease, NHS Choices - http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Coronary-heart-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx Accessed December 2009
3. Deaths caused by cause, sex, age, 2007, United Kingdom, British Heart Foundation http://www.heartstats.org/datapage.asp?id=713 Accessed December 2009
4. Lopez-Garcia, E., et al Circulation - Journal of the American Heart Association, 2009 (available online: http://circ.ahajournals.org)
Source
Journal of Cardiology

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