Morning coffee may reduce heart disease risk and early death

Drinking coffee in the morning may offer more health benefits than sipping it throughout the day, according to a study published in the European Heart Journal.

Researchers found that morning coffee drinkers have a lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a reduced overall mortality risk compared to people who either drink coffee all day or don’t drink it at all.

The study was led by Dr. Lu Qi, a professor at Tulane University in New Orleans, who explained the motivation behind the research: “Previous studies suggest coffee doesn’t increase the risk of heart disease and may reduce the risk of chronic illnesses like type 2 diabetes. We wanted to see if the time of day when coffee is consumed affects heart health.”

The Study: Who Participated and What Was Measured

The research included data from 40,725 adults who participated in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 and 2018. Participants reported their food and drink consumption, including coffee habits—whether they drank it, how much, and when.

A smaller subgroup of 1,463 participants kept detailed food diaries for a full week. The researchers linked this information with records of deaths and causes of death over 9 to 10 years.

Among the participants:

36% drank coffee mostly in the morning (before noon),
16% drank coffee throughout the day (morning, afternoon, and evening),
48% did not drink coffee.

The study revealed significant differences in health outcomes based on coffee consumption patterns.

Morning Coffee Linked to Health Benefits

Compared to non-coffee drinkers, morning coffee drinkers were:

16% less likely to die from any cause,
31% less likely to die from cardiovascular disease.

Interestingly, these benefits were consistent whether morning coffee drinkers had a moderate intake (two to three cups) or a high intake (more than three cups). Light coffee drinkers (one cup or less) also saw a smaller reduction in risk.

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

Why Timing Matters

Dr. Qi noted that this is the first study to investigate how the timing of coffee consumption impacts health. He suggested that coffee consumption later in the day might disrupt circadian rhythms—the body’s internal clock—and interfere with hormones like melatonin, which regulate sleep.

This disruption could lead to increased inflammation and higher blood pressure, both of which raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Professor Thomas F. Lüscher, a cardiologist from London, provided additional insights. He explained that the body’s sympathetic activity (which controls responses like heart rate and blood pressure) naturally peaks in the morning and decreases as the day goes on.

Drinking coffee in the afternoon or evening might interfere with this rhythm, potentially explaining the reduced benefits for all-day coffee drinkers.

Implications for Coffee Lovers

The study underscores the potential health benefits of enjoying coffee in the morning while cautioning against excessive consumption later in the day. Dr. Qi emphasized the need for further research to validate these findings in different populations and through clinical trials.

Professor Lüscher added: “We now have substantial evidence that drinking coffee, particularly in the morning, is likely to be healthy. So, drink your coffee—but do it in the morning.”

Summary of Findings

This study highlights the importance of timing when it comes to coffee consumption. Morning coffee drinkers showed a lower risk of death from all causes and cardiovascular disease compared to non-coffee drinkers, while all-day coffee drinkers did not experience these benefits.

Researchers suggest that the timing of coffee consumption may influence the body’s natural rhythms and health outcomes. Future studies may refine these recommendations, but for now, the advice is clear: start your day with coffee and enjoy its potential health perks.

If you care about heart health, please read studies that vitamin K helps cut heart disease risk by a third, and a year of exercise reversed worrisome heart failure.

For more health information, please see recent studies about supplements that could help prevent heart disease, stroke, and results showing this food ingredient may strongly increase heart disease death risk.

The research findings can be found in European Heart Journal.