Coffee Consumption May Protect Against Coronary Artery Calcification

by | Dec 10, 2018 | 2018, Caffeine, Cardiovascular Health

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Habitual coffee drinking of greater than 3 cups per day was associated with lower odds of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis among never smokers in a Brazilian population, suggesting that coffee consumption could exert a potential beneficial effect against coronary calcification and CVD risk, particularly in nonsmokers. 

Over the last several decades, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has remained one of the leading causes of death in the United States 1, and reports estimate that by 2030, CVD will account for almost 24 million deaths globally 2. Cardiovascular health is influenced by various factors, including physical activity, diet, and smoking; however, in recent years, special attention has been given to the effects of coffee on cardiovascular function 3,4. Some studies report evidence suggesting that coffee consumption may increase risk of CVD 5,6, while others indicate an inverse relationship 7,8. The current 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends moderate coffee consumption to help prevent type 2 diabetes and CVD 9, but the effects of coffee on subclinical CVD conditions such as subclinical atherosclerosis are less understood. Using coronary artery calcium (CAC), a marker of pathologic changes in coronary artery function and a reliable predictor of future risk of cardiovascular events 10,11, a handful of studies have examined the link between coffee intake and subclinical atherosclerosis, yielding inconsistent findings regarding the role of coffee 12-15. To further investigate the association between coffee consumption and subclinical atherosclerosis, researchers in Brazil (2018)16 analyzed habitual coffee intake in relation to CAC measures in a group of middle-aged participants.

A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from participants of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health. At baseline, a total of 4,4265 participants (median age of 50 years) underwent a computed tomography (CT) examination to quantify CAC score (expressed as Agatson units, CAC ≥ 100), and dietary data was collected 12 months prior to baseline examination using a food frequency questionnaire to assess habitual coffee intake (measuring frequency and quantity of coffee consumption). At baseline, sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, including physical activity level, smoking status, and alcohol intake, were evaluated through personal interviews.

Analyses revealed a statistically significant interaction effect for coffee consumption and smoking status on CAC ≥ 100 (p = 0.028 for interaction). Multiple regression analysis also showed significant inverse associations between coffee consumption (> 3 cups/day) and CAC (≥ 100): odds ratios (OR) for CAC ≥ 100 in coffee drinkers, compared with non-coffee drinkers, were 0.85 (95% CI: 0.58-1.24), 0.73 (95% CI: 0.51-1.05), and 0.33 (95% CI: 0.17-0.65) for ≤ 1, 1-3, and > 3 cups per day (p = 0.015 for trend). While OR of subclinical atherosclerosis among current and former smokers was not associated with coffee consumption, among non-smokers, consumption of up to 3 cups of coffee daily was associated with lower probability of coronary calcification (OR= 0.37, 95% CI: 0.15-0.91, p = 0.036 for trend).

Based on findings, researchers conclude that regular intake of coffee, specifically more than 3 cups daily, may protect against risk of subclinical atherosclerosis among non-smokers. Habitual coffee consumption may prevent risk of CVD, but such effects appear nullified by smoking habit. Limitations of the study include the use of a cross-sectional design, which prevents establishment of causal inference, and the sampling of a relatively homogenous population group (subjects were healthy, middle-aged, and highly-educated), which may restrict generalizability of findings. The study, however, benefits from a large sample size and the use of CAC measurement, a well-known marker of coronary artery disease 10,11, to assess subclinical coronary atherosclerosis. Future research is still needed to confirm the biological basis underlying the beneficial effects of coffee on CVD.

Source: Miranda, Andreia M., Josiane Steluti, Alessandra C. Goulart, Isabela M. Benseñor, Paulo A. Lotufo, and Dirce M. Marchioni. “Coffee Consumption and Coronary Artery Calcium Score: Cross‐Sectional Results of ELSA‐Brasil (Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health).” Journal of the American Heart Association 7, no. 7 (2018): e007155.

©2018 The Authors. Open access article under Creative Commons

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is noncommercial and no modifications or adaptations are made. DOI: 10.1161/

Click here to read the full text study.

Posted December 10, 2018.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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