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Moderate coffee consumption may lower risk for subclinical coronary atherosclerosis
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Healthy adults in Korea who drank three to five cups of coffee per day had lower risk for subclinical coronary atherosclerosis compared with higher and lower consumption.
Researchers included 25,138 participants in Korea without clinically evident CVD (mean age, 41 years; 83.7% men). The participants underwent health screening that included CT scans to detect coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores and self-reported daily coffee consumption using a food-frequency questionnaire.
According to the results, the prevalence of detectable CAC (score > 0) was 13.4%. Eleven percent of patients had a CAC score of 1 to 100 and 2.1% had a score greater than 100.
Overall, the mean amount of coffee consumed per day was 1.8 cups.
After adjusting for education, physical activity, smoking status, BMI, parental history of CHD, alcohol consumption and diet, compared with non-coffee drinkers, the CAC score ratio was:
- 0.77 (95% CI, 0.49-1.19) for participants who consumed less than one cup of coffee per day;
- 0.66 (95% CI, 0.43-1.02) for participants who consumed one to less than three cups of coffee per day;
- 0.59 (95% CI, 0.38-0.93) for participants who consumed three to less than five cups of coffee per day; and
- 0.81 (95% CI, 0.46-1.43) for participants who consumed five or more cups of coffee per day.
“The association was U-shaped, with participants drinking three to five or more cups per day having the lowest prevalence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis,” the researchers wrote.
Results were similar after researchers further adjusted for intermediate variables, such as systolic BP, fasting serum glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL, as well as in subgroups defined by age, sex, smoking status, alcohol consumption, obesity, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.
“Our study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that coffee consumption might be inversely associated with CVD risk,” the researchers concluded. “Further research is warranted to confirm our findings and establish the biological basis of coffee’s potential preventative effects on coronary artery disease.” – by Stephanie Viguers
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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