People who drink coffee in the morning have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease or another cause, according to a new study.
- People who drink coffee in the morning have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease.
- They also have a lower risk of death from all causes.
- One hypothesis is that morning coffee would be more beneficial because it does not disrupt sleep.
Numerous studies have highlighted the health benefits of coffee, particularly for the heart. However, not all cups taken during the day are equal, according to work carried out by Tulane University (USA).
Indeed, morning coffee would further reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and death. This conclusion was detailed in the review European Heart Journal.
Coffee: the time of consumption matters
To determine precisely whether the time of day when coffee is drunk has an impact on heart health, researchers reviewed the records of 40,725 adults who participated in the American National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 1999 and 2018. These volunteers were asked about all the food and drinks they consumed on at least one day. 1,463 people also completed a detailed diary on their diet for a full week.
About 36% of participants were morning coffee enthusiasts (they mainly drank coffee before 12 p.m.), 16% drank it throughout the day (morning, afternoon and evening) and 48% did not drink coffee. All.
Further analyzes of the data collected and the death registry show that morning coffee drinkers were 16% less likely to die from any cause than non-consumers of the black nectar. They are also 31% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease. People who drank coffee all day did not show any particular benefit compared to non-consumers.
Additionally, morning coffee advocates had lower risks whether they were moderate drinkers (two to three cups) or heavy drinkers (more than three cups). People who drank just one cup during the morning had a smaller reduction in risk.
Coffee during the day: health impacted due to its effects on sleep
“Our results indicate that it is not just whether you drink coffee or how much you drink, but the time of day you drink coffee that is important,” explains Dr Lu Qi in a press release. “We don’t usually give advice on timing in our dietary advice, but perhaps we should think about it in the future.”
The research does not explain the observed effect. However, the author puts forward a hypothesis. “One possible explanation is that drinking coffee in the afternoon or evening may disrupt circadian rhythms and levels of hormones such as melatonin. This, in turn, leads to changes in cardiovascular risk factors such as inflammation and blood pressure.”
