Updated: Mon Jun. 16 2008 14:47:46

CTV.ca News Staff

A new study has found regularly drinking coffee does not increase a person's risk of dying sooner, and may actually reduce death from heart disease.

The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that regular coffee drinking (up to 6 cups per day) is not associated with increased death rates in either men or women.

In addition, drinking both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee was associated with a lower rate of death from heart disease.

Study co-author Esther Lopez-Garcia says, "We found the consumption of coffee, even in high amounts ... six cups per day ... was associated with a lower risk of all cause mortality."

Some numbers:

• Women who drank two to three cups of caffeinated coffee per day had a 25 per cent lower risk of death from heart disease
• That same group of women had an 18 per cent lower risk of death caused by something other than cancer or heart disease.
• In men, the same amount of coffee had no impact on risk of death during the follow-up years from 1986 to 2004.

Lopez-Garcia noted that the survey population was a healthy group of people. "We have to be cautious with our interpretation," she said. "We don't know how (coffee) affects other diseases."

Participants filled out questionnaires every two to four years, including questions about coffee drinking, dietary habits, smoking and other health conditions, and death from any cause, from heart disease and from cancer were compared.

Taking into account risk factors like body size, smoking, diet and specific diseases, people who drank more coffee were found to be less likely to die, mainly because of lower risk of heart disease deaths among coffee drinkers.

No association between drinking coffee and cancer death rates was found.

However, researchers say that caffeine doesn't seem to be associated with lower death rates, as people who drank decaffeinated coffee also had lower death rates.

According to Lopez-Garcia, "In coffee there are many other molecules and it may counterbalance the negative effets."

Researchers advise that while coffee may have a beneficial effect on health, people with chronic conditions like heart disease should speak to their doctor.

Comments are now closed for this story

Inversity
When it comes to coffee or any other food/nutrition product, it's not the substance, itself, that creates the problems, but the amount. Too much of any one product is bound to increase risks of health problems, but anything, in moderation, with many other foods or drinks will be more of a benefit, generally, than something that would cause greater health risks; and coffee, as shown by this research, is in that category, too.

job
In your face tea....

Jasper
I knew it all along. I would die without my coffee in the morning!

Doug BC
People actually make a living doing studies like this? All this does is make me wonder how much better off we'd be if they all went out and got real jobs.

mamad
I used to be a coffee drinker before but I don't drink anymore. I started to feel really bad after drinking it so I stopped. I felt like it is impacting my life very negatively. Now I only drink green tea.

Mike W
I love the headline. Taken at face value, it indicates that some coffee drinkers are immortal.

Ki-Som
Finally, something that I like doing is actually okay for me!!!

Bea
Are they sure this time......lol

Theodore
Another stupid and silly so-called study about the "benefits" of coffee. Next month, someone will present another study proving that coffee is harmful to one's health. These studies are just mainstream media propaganda. After presenting such a study for public consumption, the media will conduct a survey to determine if coffee sales go up. And in most cases they will. Hence, the media has confirmation that they are still in CONTROL of the masses. Don't be a sucker for these types of studies on popular consumer products. Dismiss them as hogwash!

aaron
What about the effects of the cream and sugar helping to make people obese?

Mike
Never ever trust the news with health studies. Most of the time the information is wrong. Coffee is a drug, highly addictive drug. Coffee dehydrates you how can that be a good thing? You're better off drinking green tea!

Coffee drinkers have slightly lower death rates?
Coffee drinkers have the same death rate as everyone else 100%.

Next survey please!

Cant go back now... yuk!!
I gave up coffee two years ago and I used to drink 12 cups a day easily.

My pulse rate dropped almost 25%, I feel better and now I drink Timmie Ho's green tea and although it has some caffeine it's much easier on the system.

Jeffery
Too much coffee can cause many other problems...

R D
Was this study sponsored by STARBUCK'S or TIM HORTONS or both. I love my Maxwell House at home though. The odd Timmy's once in a while. Never a Starbuck's. Way too expensive.

AndyN
Don't be fooled. The coffee cartel is likely behind this study. Consider the following:

1. Cancer rates were conveniently ignored.

2. Caffeine is heavily addictive.

3. Forty years ago medical studies suggested cigarettes had health benefits. Seems to me that cream, sugar, and something that gives people the jitters is not something I would give my kids.

Western Opinion
What is it with all these studies that always seem to have opposing results from year to year. I'm stating to have very little faith in these so-called experts. Much like the global warming scam, these scientists seem to investigate in any manner that gets them funding and keeps them employed.

WW
god bless tim hortons...

ME
one day coffee's bad for you, the next it's good for you!!
I say do what you want and ignore the studies. Most of them are flawed anyway because they just focus on the one thing, and don't take a person's health or family history into consideration.

JJ
It wasn't that long ago that a study stated that drinking coffee was bad for you, albeit 6 or more cups a day.

Who knows what the next study will advise????

Anne
now job, let's not start maligning tea now. lol I am with inversity who says it is not necessarily the substance but the amount. In spite of this study however, I would not think that 10 cups of coffee a day would be good for you, but one or two cups should be fine. Moderation in all things.

bob in harley
Oviously they must have tested with Timmys and not that large american brand. It would kill anyone!

Blitzen
If you come between a person and their morning coffee, then you will have to worry about a different kind of death rate.

Steve
Studies have found that paying attention to studies can be hazardous to your common sense.

ColinS
To the 12-cup a day person, no wonder your pulse is down after cutting back or stopping. Caffeine makes your heart work harder to pump blood. Now I used to not drink coffee or any dark cola due to the caffeine. However, working early in the morning it's nice to have that cup of coffee, but only with milk and sweetener, no sugar either. I could go without if I wanted (didn't have one today), but I choose to have a maximum of one a day on average. Like many have said...in moderation, it's ok. Watched a show last night that said drinking too much water in too short a time is toxic, so don't tell me coffee is bad for people just because...it's how much and what they put in it.

Shane Gallant
All of these studies should have to tell there source of funding, as this may make a difference to the out come. Every product can find someone to support there product in a study. Salt is not good for you but I take these studies with a grain of salt.

Roger T
Drink too much - you drown, drink too little - you dehydrate.

Drink too much - prices rise on high demand, drink too little - sales plummet and reverse the study to stir sales.

What a waste of time for these studies funded by the industries that are in whatever businesses they have interest in.

Live smart and make smart choices not by studies taht are dictated by the SO CALLED "Scientist".