
“I think coffee is the most important part of a person’s life,” smart comedian Jerry Seinfeld recently said in an interview with Jimmy Fallon. Although science has not reached this level of fidelity, new research gives this leak great significance Increasing virtuous status. Now, scientists from three universities have found out A cup of coffee daily produces a Positive effect on the heart.
The researchers focused specifically on Atrial fibrillation (Fa), and he The most common arrhythmia Its spread is increasing. For this reason, there is a growing interest in investigating risk factors that can be avoided or prevented. Coffee contains multiple active ingredients, among which the most notable are: CaffeineThere is still debate about whether its effect is beneficial, harmful, or neutral when what is at stake is this heart condition.
Historically this has been considered so Coffee containing caffeine leads to irregular heartbeat. “Patients often cite this as a common trigger for atrial fibrillation episodes, and doctors continue to recommend it Reduce coffee consumption “It could reduce the effects,” warns new research on the subject that was just published in the journal JAMA.
The work, conducted by scientists from the University of Adelaide, San Francisco and Toronto, ensures that “observational studies have generally not reported an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, and Even lower risks have been reportedamong those who consume coffee.” He adds that “a precise understanding of any effect of caffeinated coffee on atrial fibrillation will be of great interest to both For patients and doctors“.
The DECAF (Does Detoxing Coffee Prevent Arrhythmia?) trial was a prospective, randomized, open-label, international, multicenter clinical study. Patients were recruited from five hospitals in the United States, Australia, and Canada. They included patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, and caffeinated coffee consumption, compared to abstinence from coffee and caffeine, was associated with stroke. Much less repetition From atrial fibrillation.
Two hundred patients, with an average age of 69 years and undergoing treatment for arrhythmia, were randomly assigned to consume or abstain from caffeinated coffee. It was consumption Seven rates per week In one group and nothing in the other. They were followed for up to six months.
In the primary analysis, the frequency of atrial fibrillation was lower in the coffee consumption group (47%) than in the abstinence group (64%), resulting in 39% reduced risk of recurrence. There were no significant differences in adverse events.
Different mechanisms, according to the authors of the work, could explain these findings: “Coffee contains many biological compounds, of which caffeine is the best known. Some data suggest that caffeinated coffee, but not decaffeinated coffee, is associated with Reduced incidence of atrial fibrillation“Coffee looks like that too,” they add Anti-inflammatory properties. “Since systemic inflammation is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), coffee may reduce this risk by reducing inflammation.”
Finally, they point out that “the caffeine used in this study was… Natural origin Coffee consumption was within normal limits. It would not be appropriate to extrapolate the observed benefits High doses of caffeineEspecially artificial products such as energy drinks that can contain Other materials. However, given the clear protective effects, it may be interesting to study strategies to encourage or even initiate the consumption of caffeinated coffee as treatment. Preventive measure For atrial fibrillation.