Three cups of black coffee a day enough to lower diabetes, heart disease risk

The study found that people who regularly drank coffee or consumed caffeine, especially in moderate amounts, had a lower risk of developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases.

In Short

• People who regularly drank coffee in moderate amounts had lower risk of diabetes, heart disease
• Drinking three cups of coffee or 200-300 mg of caffeine per day may help lower the risk
• Encouraging people to drink coffee in moderate amounts of coffee can prevent cardiometabolic diseases

The study has found the amount of caffeine you need to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

According to new research published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, regular consumption of moderate amounts of coffee and caffeine can protect against several heart-related and metabolic diseases.

The study found that people who regularly drank coffee or consumed caffeine, especially in moderate amounts, had a lower risk of developing multiple cardiometabolic diseases (CM), which refers to having at least two heart or metabolic conditions at the same time.

Cardiometabolic diseases are a group of conditions that include cardiovascular, metabolic, and other abnormalities. Some examples of cardiometabolic diseases include: heart attack, stroke, diabetes, insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hypertension, and circulatory diseases.

As people live longer worldwide, the number of individuals with multiple cardiometabolic diseases is becoming a bigger public health issue, according to the study.

The researchers discovered that coffee and caffeine could offer some protection during nearly all stages of cardiometabolic disease development.

"Drinking three cups of coffee or 200-300 mg of caffeine per day may help lower the risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases in those who are currently healthy,” said Chaofu Ke, the lead author from Suzhou Medical College in China.

HOW MUCH COFFEE SHOULD YOU DRINK?

The study showed that compared to people who consumed less than 100 mg of caffeine a day or didn't drink coffee at all, those who consumed moderate amounts (about three cups of coffee or 200-300 mg of caffeine per day) had a 48% lower risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases.

The researchers based their findings on data from the UK Biobank, a large dietary study that included over 5,00,000 participants aged 37-73.

The analysis focused on 1,72,315 participants who had no heart or metabolic diseases at the start for caffeine intake, and 1,88,091 participants for coffee and tea consumption.

Participants' health outcomes were identified using their self-reported medical information, primary care data, hospital records, and death registries connected to the UK Biobank.

The study found that coffee and caffeine consumption, at any level, was linked to a lower risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases. Moderate coffee or caffeine intake was especially associated with the lowest risk.

"These findings suggest that encouraging people to drink moderate amounts of coffee or consume caffeine as part of their diet may be beneficial for preventing cardiometabolic diseases," said Ke.

WHAT SETS THIS STUDY APART?

While many studies have already shown that coffee, tea, and caffeine can lower the risk of single heart or metabolic diseases, their effects on multiple diseases together were not well understood.

The researchers highlighted that people with a single cardiometabolic disease have twice the risk of dying compared to those without any such diseases.

In contrast, people with multiple cardiometabolic conditions have 4 to 7 times higher mortality risk.