American Heart Association says up to five cups of coffee a day are generally safe for most adults
A new scientific statement from the American Heart Association finds that drinking up to five 8-ounce cups of regular coffee daily does not increase cardiovascular risk for most people, though higher intake may raise heart-failure risk and unfiltered coffee can raise LDL cholesterol.
The American Heart Association released a scientific statement indicating that most adults can safely consume up to five 8-ounce cups of regular coffee each day without elevating their risk of heart disease. The analysis, published in the journal Circulation, reviewed recent observational and randomized studies on caffeinated coffee and cardiovascular outcomes.
"The great majority of people who enjoy drinking caffeinated coffee and caffeinated tea should generally be reassured that doing so is almost certainly not increasing their risk for cardiovascular disease — and could even have some benefits," said Dr. Greg Marcus, a UCSF cardiologist who chaired the writing group.
The review found that moderate coffee intake (one to three cups daily) is not linked to a higher incidence of atrial fibrillation, and some evidence suggests it may lower the risk of recurrent episodes. Consuming two to four cups per day was associated with reduced risks of heart disease, heart failure, and stroke, while intake above four cups could increase heart-failure risk.
Unfiltered coffee varieties, such as Turkish, Greek, French-press, and boiled Scandinavian coffee, contain cafestol, a compound that can raise LDL cholesterol, whereas paper-filtered and instant coffee do not. Synthetic caffeinated products like energy drinks were noted as less studied and potentially more harmful.
The statement cautioned that individual responses to caffeine vary based on genetics, age and consumption habits, making universal dosage recommendations difficult.