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Regular caffeine consumption unlikely to lead to changes in heart rhythm
In a new study, regular consumption of caffeinated products including coffee, tea and chocolate was not associated with premature atrial and ventricular contractions.
Researchers evaluated 1,388 participants from the NHLBI Cardiovascular Health Study, a prospective, community-based cohort study, to evaluate the relationship between dietary patterns and premature cardiac contractions such as premature atrial contractions (PAC) and premature ventricular contractions (PVC). All participants underwent dietary assessment and 24-hour Holter monitoring. Chronic caffeine consumption was defined as average frequency of consumption during the past 12 months.
According to the findings, more than 60% of participants consumed one or more daily servings of coffee, tea or chocolate. However, the researchers reported no difference in the number of PACs/hour, PVCs/hour, or supraventricular tachycardia or ventricular tachycardia runs. After adjusting for other variables, the combined intake of coffee, tea and chocolate as a continuous measure did not increase premature cardiac contractions. Instead, it was associated with 0.48% fewer PACs/hour (95% CI, –4.6 to 3.64) and 2.87% fewer PVCs/hour (95% CI, –8.18 to 2.43) per 1-serving/week increase in consumption.
Adjusted analyses indicated an association between coffee consumption one to four times/week and tea consumption five to 10 times/year with an increase in ventricular tachycardia runs, although no significant trends were revealed.
One study limitation noted by the researchers was the lack of insight into what participants ate immediately before or during the Holter monitoring.
“Clinical recommendations advising against the regular consumption of caffeinated products to prevent disturbances of the heart’s cardiac rhythm should be reconsidered, as we may unnecessarily be discouraging consumption of items like chocolate, coffee and tea that might actually have cardiovascular benefits,” Gregory M. Marcus, MD, MAS, director of clinical research in the division of cardiology at the University of California, San Francisco, said in a press release.
Gregory M. Marcus
According to Shalini Dixit, a medical student at the University of California, San Francisco, previous studies have focused on patients with known arrhythmias, but this study was the first to target the general population. In the release, Dixit called for future research to assess the effect acute consumption of these products has on cardiac ectopy. – by Tracey Romero
Disclosure: Marcus reporting consulting for and holding equity in InCarda, receiving research support from the Medtronic, the NIH, Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Pfizer and SentreHeart. Dixit reports no relevant financial disclosures.