Coffee appears to have cardiovascular health benefits regardless of what form it comes in — traditional ground, instant, or decaffeinated — according to a new study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology.
Past research has found that coffee may have a range of health benefits, some of which are directly relevant to people with diabetes. Drinking coffee may help preserve kidney function in people with type 2 diabetes, as well as reduce the risk for diabetic retinopathy (eye disease), a widespread long-term diabetes complication. Coffee drinkers appear to be less likely to die from any cause within a given period of time, and drinking either coffee or tea regularly is linked to a lower risk of both stroke and dementia. It’s worth noting, though, that a very high level of coffee consumption may increase the risk for dementia, and drinking coffee may contribute to sleep disruption. And depending on the brewing method, some forms of coffee may contribute to high cholesterol.
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For the latest study, researchers examined coffee drinking habits and health outcomes in 449,563 UK residents who took part in a large general health research effort called the UK Biobank. The average age of participants was 58, and they were followed for a median of 12.5 years. The researchers divided participants based on how many daily cups they consumed of ground, instant, and decaffeinated coffee, and looked at how each group fared when it came to cardiovascular outcomes and overall death risk — adjusting for factors known to affect these outcomes, such as age, sex, and health history.
Different coffee types linked to various health benefits
During the follow-up period, participants who consumed one to five cups daily of ground or instant coffee — but not those who consumed decaffeinated coffee — had a lower risk for an irregular heartbeat. The lowest risk level for each type was seen in those who drank four to five cups of ground coffee (17% lower risk for irregular heartbeat) and two to three cups of instant coffee (12% lower risk).
When it came to overall cardiovascular disease risk, all forms of coffee appeared to be beneficial, and the same was true for the overall risk of dying during the follow-up period. Participants who drank two to three cups daily of ground coffee were 27% less likely to die, while those who drank two to three cups daily of instant coffee were 11% less likely to die, and those who drank two to three cups daily of decaffeinated coffee were 14% less likely to die.
The researchers concluded that drinking any type of coffee is linked to better cardiovascular health and a lower risk of dying, while only caffeinated coffee appears to be beneficial for preventing an irregular heartbeat. “Mild [to] moderate coffee intake of all types should not be discouraged but rather considered part of a healthy lifestyle,” they wrote.
Want to learn more about beverages and diabetes? See “Staying Hydrated,” “Best Beverages for Staying Hydrated,” “Water Facts: Getting to Know H20,” and “What’s to Drink?”
