New Study: Morning Coffee Consumption Linked to Lower Risk of Death

A new study published in the European Heart Journal has revealed that the timing of coffee consumption plays a crucial role in health outcomes. Specifically, drinking coffee in the morning hours was associated with a significantly lower risk of death, particularly from cardiovascular disease, compared to those who drink coffee throughout the day or do not consume it at all.

The study analyzed data from 40,725 adults in the United States using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018, along with an additional 1,463 participants from the U.S. Women’s and Men’s Lifestyle Validation Study. Participants were followed for a median of 9.8 years.

Distinct Coffee-Drinking Patterns

Researchers categorized participants into three primary coffee-drinking patterns:

• Morning-only drinkers (coffee consumed between 4 a.m. and 12 p.m.): 36%

• All-day drinkers (coffee consumed throughout the day): 14%

• Non-coffee drinkers

During the study period, there were 4,295 total deaths, including 1,268 from cardiovascular disease and 934 from cancer.

Key Findings

• Morning coffee drinkers had a 16% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to non-drinkers (Hazard Ratio: 0.84).

• They also had a 31% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality (Hazard Ratio: 0.69).

• In contrast, individuals who drank coffee throughout the day showed no significant reduction in mortality risk compared to non-drinkers.

• The health benefits were more pronounced among those who drank at least two cups of coffee in the morning, while such a dose–response effect was not observed in all-day coffee drinkers.

Researchers’ Interpretation

The researchers suggested that consuming caffeine later in the day may disrupt the body’s circadian rhythm and alter melatonin levels, which can negatively affect blood pressure, inflammation, and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Dr. Lu Qi, lead author of the study from Tulane University, explained:

“Given caffeine’s physiological effects, we wanted to determine whether the timing of coffee consumption influences cardiovascular health. This is the first study to explore the relationship between coffee timing patterns and long-term health outcomes.”

He added:

“While we can’t yet pinpoint the exact mechanism, one possible explanation is that drinking coffee in the afternoon or evening might interfere with circadian regulation and increase exposure to harmful cardiovascular effects.”

Expert Recommendations

Professor Thomas Lüscher, from Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals in London, recommended limiting coffee to morning hours, warning that drinking coffee throughout the day may lead to sleep disturbances and impair long-term heart health.