Most adults can safely drink up to five cups of coffee a day, says a new statement on caffeine consumption from the American Heart Association.
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For some people, that amount of caffeine — about 400 mg — even appears to be linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, said the statement, released Monday. But higher doses of caffeine, “such as levels found in energy drinks,” may cause cardiovascular harm, it said.
“Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease,” published in the association’s peer-reviewed journal Circulation, focuses on consumption of caffeinated coffee without added sweeteners, dairy or flavorings. A regular brewed coffee typically has 9.4 to 20.6 mg of caffeine per fluid ounce, or about 75 to 160 mg in an 8-ounce cup.
The statement’s key takeaways on health effects of caffeinated coffee:
- It is linked to a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, heart failure and some irregular heart rhythms.
- It is associated with a lower risk of atrial fibrillation but a higher risk of premature ventricular contractions.
The paper also addressed studies on coffee’s effects on blood pressure and cholesterol.
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But the authors noted that such research is “challenging” because it’s hard to separate the effects of caffeine from those of other compounds in coffee. “In addition,” the statement said, “most studies on caffeine are observational, meaning they cannot prove cause and effect.”
The authors called for more study to better understand the effects of caffeine from coffee and from other sources.
Energy drinks, most of which have 40 to 69 mg of caffeine per fluid ounce, are “associated with cardiovascular harm, such as increased risk of high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythm,” the paper said.
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