Coffee may benefit heart disease recovery

Cup of coffee in a cafe. Image by Tim Sandle

New research suggests that drinking coffee may help to protect against atrial fibrillation (AFib), a common heart rhythm disorder that causes the heart to beat too quickly and irregularly, sometimes leading to stroke or heart failure.

Rates of AFib have been climbing in recent years, largely due to ageing populations and increasing obesity. 

Standard tests for AFib include:

The scientists, from University of California – San Francisco, discovered that caffeine’s effects on activity, blood pressure, and inflammation could all contribute to a healthier heart rhythm. The so-termed DECAF (Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation?) clinical trial’s findings suggest coffee could be not only safe but beneficial for people with AFib.

The relationship with heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke, is either positive or neutral.

Studying 200 patients

The trial involved 200 patients who were regular coffee drinkers and had persistent AFib or a related condition known as atrial flutter, along with a history of AFib. All were scheduled to undergo electrical cardioversion, a procedure that uses a controlled electrical shock to restore normal heart rhythm. Participants were randomly assigned to either drink at least one cup of caffeinated coffee or an espresso shot each day, or to completely avoid coffee and other caffeinated beverages for six months.

Coffee beans have over 100 biologically active compounds. These substances can help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, improve insulin sensitivity, boost metabolism, inhibit the gut’s absorption of fat and block receptors known to be involved with abnormal heart rhythms.

The findings appear to contradict earlier medical advice which has advised people with AFib and other heart issues to stay away from caffeine, fearing it could worsen symptoms. In contrast, the study has found the opposite: participants who drank one cup of caffeinated coffee a day had a 39% lower risk of developing AFib.

In addition to coffee’s potential anti-inflammatory effects, the researchers proposed that those who drank coffee may have naturally replaced less healthy drinks, such as sugary sodas, with coffee instead.

Analysis

According to lead researcher Gregory M. Marcus: “Coffee increases physical activity which is known to reduce atrial fibrillation.”

Marcus adds that “caffeine is also a diuretic, which could potentially reduce blood pressure and in turn lessen AFib risk. Several other ingredients in coffee also have anti-inflammatory properties that could have positive effects.”

The research appears in the Journal of the American Medical Association, titled “Caffeinated Coffee Consumption or Abstinence to Reduce Atrial Fibrillation.”