New research shows that drinking coffee daily can lower the risk of recurrence of atrial fibrillation – Muscle and fitness

Because caffeine’s stimulant properties are known to increase our heart rate, doctors have long told people with the common heart rhythm disorder AFib to give up their coffee intake, but a surprising new study is raising a lid on the potential benefits of a daily cup of joe. This is evident from the study, which was jointly conducted by UC San Francisco and the University of Adelaide that the previous advice to avoid caffeine may have been incorrect because instead of worsening the condition, AFib (atrial fibrillation) patients received benefits from the popular brown drink. The condition itself is the most common type of arrhythmia and can cause the heart to beat too fast, slow, or irregularly. It is estimated that more than 12 million people in the US are living with AFib, requiring these individuals to pay attention to their diet and nutrition to stay healthy.

How was the research conducted?

Researchers designed what they called the “DECAF” study, short for “Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation?” The trial enrolled more than 200 AFib patients who were regular coffee drinkers and gave them randomly assigned protocols, including abstinence from coffee, an espresso shot every day, or at least one cup of caffeinated coffee per day, for six months.

What were the results?

Results that many experts found surprising showed that the group that drank coffee had a 39% lower risk of recurring AFib episodes. “The results were astonishing” said the study’s first author, Christopher X. Wong, PhD. “Physicians have always recommended that patients with problematic AFib minimize their coffee intake, but this study suggests that coffee is not only safe, but likely protective.”

One theory behind the reduced risk in coffee drinkers is that they no longer consume unhealthy drinks, such as sugar-laden energy drinks. “Coffee increases physical activity which is known to reduce atrial fibrillation,” explains Gregory M. Marcus, MD, MAS, an electrophysiologist at UCSF Health and the senior author of the study, further explaining that “caffeine is also a diuretic, which may potentially lower blood pressure and in turn reduce the risk of AFib. Several other ingredients in coffee also have anti-inflammatory properties that may have positive effects.”

The number of cases of AFib has increased in recent years, largely due to an aging population and increasing obesity. Experts estimate that as many as one in three people will experience this condition at some point in their lives, so it’s good to know that coffee may still be on the menu.