Just cook it – a new study from China finds that moderate coffee consumption may lower the risk of developing a combination of diabetes, stroke and heart disease known as cardiometabolic multimorbidity.
Researchers determined that downing three cups of coffee a day, or 200-300 milligrams of caffeine, could reduce the odds by more than 40% compared to non-drinkers or less-weekly drinkers.
“The findings highlight that promoting moderate amounts of coffee or caffeine intake as a dietary habit for healthy people may have broad benefits for preventing [cardiometabolic multimorbidity]”, said the main author of the study, Dr. Chaofu Ke from Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University.
Cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CM) is defined as having two or more cardiometabolic diseases—type 2 diabetes, heart disease, or stroke.
About 34 million American adults had CM in 2017, according to government data.
For this study, around 360,400 UK residents shared their daily intake of caffeine, coffee or tea.
The researchers followed the participants for about 12 years — about 2,700 CMs developed.
The team studied plasma samples from nearly 185,000 participants, measuring 168 plasma metabolites, which are small molecules produced by cells that are involved in many metabolic reactions throughout the body.
These metabolites painted a picture of the participants’ cholesterol metabolism, fatty acid composition and other processes.
The researchers determined that coffee and caffeine consumption at all levels decreased the risk of developing CM, with the lowest risk associated with moderate intake. The findings were published Tuesday in the Endocrine Society’s Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.
There were some limitations to the study, including that caffeine intake was only studied in relation to coffee or tea and not soda or energy drinks.
However, the authors said their study identified “an array” of metabolites associated with coffee, tea and caffeine that may provide clues about chemical reactions within the body.
“Future studies are warranted to gain deeper insight into the pathway from coffee, tea, and caffeine intake to circulating metabolites and then to CM,” the researchers wrote in their findings.
They noted that caffeine has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes, and harmful cholesterol.
High cholesterol levels can increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Coffee and tea are also major sources of phenolic acids and polyphenols, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Chronic inflammation is linked to insulin resistance.
“From previous literature, we know that moderate caffeine has a relatively neutral effect on cardiovascular disease, but that it may protect against diabetes,” said Dr. Nisha Parikh, co-director of the Center for Women’s Heart Health at Northwell Cardiovascular Institute, told The Post.
“In light of previous studies, I currently tell my patients that moderate caffeine intake does not cause atherosclerosis (or plaque build-up in the blood vessels), may lead to palpitations, and has modest protection against diabetes,” he added. Parikh, who. was not included in the new study.
The Food and Drug Administration recommends no more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day for healthy adults.
Too much caffeine has been shown to cause restlessness, dizziness, nervousness, headaches and other health problems. Caffeine too late in the day, meanwhile, can lead to sleep problems.
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