Drinking coffee in the morning might reduce the risk of early death, according to new research. The study found morning coffee drinkers had a lower likelihood of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to all-day coffee consumers. However, the research could not confirm coffee as the sole reason for the reduced risk.
Insights Into the Research Findings
Dr. Lu Qi, the lead researcher and director of Tulane University’s Obesity Research Center, explained a possible link. Consuming coffee later in the day might disrupt the body’s internal clock, impacting factors like inflammation and blood pressure. This disruption could increase cardiovascular risks.
The study, published in the European Heart Journal, analyzed data from 40,725 U.S. adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2018. Participants detailed their food and drink consumption, including coffee habits. Researchers tracked their health records and causes of death over nearly 10 years.
During the follow-up period, 4,295 participants died, with 1,268 deaths linked to cardiovascular disease. Morning coffee drinkers showed a 16% lower overall mortality risk and a 31% lower heart disease-related mortality risk compared to non-coffee drinkers. In contrast, all-day coffee drinkers did not experience the same benefits.
Potential Explanations and Future Research
The researchers emphasized the need for further studies to understand the findings. Dr. Qi noted, “We need clinical trials to test the impact of changing coffee consumption timing on health.” Previous studies highlighted coffee’s health benefits, but this is the first to examine the effects of drinking timing.
An editorial by Prof. Thomas F. Luscher of Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals offered additional perspectives. He suggested that coffee drinking in the morning might align better with the body’s natural circadian rhythms. Disrupting this rhythm, especially by drinking coffee later, might interfere with melatonin production and sleep patterns.
Interestingly, morning coffee drinkers tended to consume less overall coffee but drank more tea and caffeinated sodas. This difference could also influence the health outcomes observed.
The study concluded that higher coffee intake lowered death risks only among morning coffee drinkers. These findings highlight the importance of timing in coffee consumption and its potential effects on health.