Posted on 07/23/2018 9:34:35 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
GOOD NEWS. The study contains some good news for people who drink a lot of coffee. StudioByTheSea/Shutterstock
There’s only one thing better than a hot cup of coffee in the morning: a new research paper telling you your daily habit is good for your health. Headlines this week presented the good news from the journal JAMA Internal Medicine:
Drinking coffee—even decaf—may help you live longer, study says https://t.co/IRZSuvNFI8— TIME (@TIME) July 3, 2018
Like many previous studies, the JAMA paper found people who drank coffee had a lower risk of dying of any cause – and specifically, of dying from heart disease and cancer – over the course of the study.
But this study only shows a correlation between drinking coffee and a lower risk of early death. It doesn’t show coffee was the cause of the lower risk.
Read more: Clearing up confusion between correlation and causation
The research is important, however, because it overturns the theory that people who drink 6 or more cups of coffee a day are at greater risk of early death. This issue had not been effectively addressed in previous studies.
How was the research conducted?
This was a prospective trial, which tracked almost half a million British residents over 10 years as part of the UK Biobank study.
In a prospective trial, subjects are recruited, then their health and illness are followed over time. We have a good idea of how healthy they were to start off with. We also have a good idea of other factors that could impact their health from the start, rather than trying to reconstruct them after they have developed a disease.
In a baseline questionnaire, subjects gave detailed responses to coffee consumption (how much, how often, what types of coffee and whether it was caffeinated or decaffeinated), as well as other factors such as alcohol, tea, race, education, physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and smoking (including intensity, type of tobacco and time since quitting).
The volunteers were all genotyped to determine their genetic variations of major caffeine metabolizing enzymes.
The participants’ health status was monitored during the study and, if they died, their cause of death was determined by the National Health Service using internationally recognised criteria.
Read more: Sorry, baristas: instant coffee has the smallest carbon footprint (but don't overfill the kettle)
What did they find?
After taking into account factors such as smoking and alcohol intake, the researchers found fewer coffee drinkers died than those who didn’t drink coffee over the 10-year study period.
Depending on the amount consumed, coffee drinkers were around 5-10% less likely to die from heart disease, cancer, and other causes during the study period than non-coffee drinkers.
Compared to non-coffee drinkers, those who consumed one cup of coffee a day had an 8% lower risk of premature death; this increased to a 16% lower risk for those who drank 6cups a day. People who drank up to 8 cups of coffee a day were 14% less likely to die prematurely than non-coffee drinkers.
This pattern was seen for all types of coffee, including instant and decaffeinated coffee.
The researchers found drinking 6 or more cups of coffee a day was not associated with an increased risk of death. While some previous studies had hinted at this (see here and here) the relationship was still uncertain. The current study is the most extensive exploration of high coffee intake to date.
They also found people who had a history of cancer, diabetes, heart attack, or stroke were not at a higher risk of death from drinking a moderate amount of coffee.
Finally, and most importantly, the researchers found people who were less able to break down caffeine were not at higher risk of death.
EXPLANATION. We don’t know exactly why coffee is linked to longevity but there are plausible explanations. Rawpixel
Previously, researchers had thought people who broke down caffeine more slowly would have higher risks of heart disease because they had higher levels of caffeine in the blood than the average person. This turns out not to be so.
What does it all mean?
As with the previous studies, this is a correlation study. So, while there was an association between coffee consumption and a lower risk of death, we still can’t say coffee was the cause of the lower risk of death.
There may be some other environmental variable that was not accounted for. Coffee consumption may entail more walking, for instance, which was not captured in the lifestyle questionnaires.
But it is still plausible coffee causes the lowered death risk. While coffee is most notable for its caffeine content, it also contains a host of antioxidants such a caffeic acid and cholorogenic acid, which might have health benefits.
This may be why the risk of death in the JAMA study was also lower for those who drank decaffeinated coffee. Decaf has been similarly effective in reducing the risk of heart disease in other studies.
Despite a recent US court ruling coffee companies in California must carry cancer warning labels, this study supports previous research that coffee consumption is protective against cancer, particularly of the colon and liver.
Coffee consumption is also thought to be protective against type two diabetes, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. However, the effect of coffee consumption is modest, and should not replace other factors such as diet and exercise.
On the other hand, women who drink coffee may have an increased fracture risk, and may wish to reduce coffee consumption during pregnancy.
This week’s JAMA study might not be reason enough to start drinking coffee, but if you love the drink, you needn’t worry about having another cup. – Ian Musgrave
Blind peer review
This is a fair and accurate assessment. Although an observational study, it is still good news for coffee drinkers. We’re unlikely to ever have a large, randomized controlled trial that can truly answer this question of causation.
One limitation of the study, which is described in the paper, is that the researchers just asked participants to tick which type of coffee they predominately drink. So there may be some mis-classification of people who regularly drank more than one type of coffee. – Clare Collins/The Conversation | Rappler.com
I love coffee and will NEVER give it up,in spite of doctor suggestions.
And I’m as old as dirt.:-)
.
.
In odd numbered years, coffee is bad for you.
In even numbered years, coffee is good for you.
If science can’t get something like this straight, what the heck is science doing mouthing off about the global climate? Scientists today are mostly hacks seeking grants. I have little respect for modern science.
“Does drinking coffee help you live longer?”
It may or may not, but the fact that I drink coffee, most definitely helps the people I work with live longer...
For the highly-committed coffee addict, coffee lets other people live longer. Take it away at your own risk!
If coffee consumption is a factor in longevity, I ought to break Methusalah’s record.
The result of almost all studies: More study needed.
So far it has.
I’ve given up booze out of love and respect for my wife. I ain’t giving up java for anyone!
I’ll see you there.
The reason we live longer is because the caffeine keeps us going, and going, and going. We drink it because the will to live keeps us active. The joy of life including our love of coffee and BEING alive, working, playing, creating, debating, and making this world a better place (or should I say, holding the line against evil until He returns to obliterate it) and whatever keeps us off the hopelessness end of the bell curve, is what makes us live longer.
I plan on doing all I can until He calls me home. Have a blessed week and stay busy!
Reasons why causation may be reversed: Those who drink little or no coffee do so because they are unhealthy to begin with.
1. People with known health problems are likely to be instructed by their doctors not to drink coffee.
2. Symptoms of some health problems can be exacerbated by coffee consumption, so people with those health issues abstain.
JAMA. Please. More lawyers read it than doctors.
“Does drinking coffee help you live longer?
So far it has. “
So far so good...as I fall past 5th floor.
“I’ve given up booze out of love and respect for my wife.”
Out of my cold dead hands!
COFFEE RISK
The best book I ever read was about risk 30 years ago.
That means human risk.
The major concern were only the Big Risks, the obvious risks of 5x 10x 50x.
My beloved brother is dead, but I still live.
Drinking alcohol plus cigarette smoking killed him, because that bad risk was a 40x. I am grateful that I read the book.
But coffee was never an “obvious” negative risk.
But if I were to break down the risk.
Coffee - ok or neutral risk
Cream or milk - ok or neutral risk
Added sugar - too much could be a cancer risk
That is very correct. It's all junk science and all about getting grants to do this study or that. Every other year, they seem to reverse the conclusions from the year before so that they can get another grant to do another study.
My biggest pet peeve is with eggs, which often gets a bad rap but is the perfect food. My cholesterol actually goes DOWN when I increase the eggs in my diet. And I cook them in real butter too. Not that margarine or vegetable oil crap. Been doing that for decades and my blood work is almost always perfect.
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