Higher coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of death, according to new research. The observational study in nearly 20,000 participants suggests that coffee is part of a healthy diet in healthy people. This analysis included 19,896 participants, whose mean age at enrollment was 37.7 years old. Upon entering the study, participants completed a previously verified food frequency questionnaire to collect information on coffee consumption, lifestyle and sociodemographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, and previous health conditions. Patients were followed for an average of ten years.
During the ten-year period, 337 participants died. The researchers found that participants who consumed at least four cups of coffee a day had a 64% lower risk of death than those who never or almost never consumed coffee. For every two additional cups of coffee per day, there was a 22% lower risk of all-cause mortality.
The researchers examined whether sex, age or adherence to the Mediterranean diet influenced the association between coffee consumption and mortality. They observed a significant interaction between coffee consumption and age. In those who were at least 45 years old, drinking an extra two cups of coffee per day was associated with a 30% lower risk of death during follow-up. The association was not significant among the younger participants.
The researchers' conclusion:"Our findings suggest that drinking four cups of coffee each day can be part of a healthy diet in healthy people."
