To Your Health: NLM update Transcript

Coffee and health: 12/28/2015

A cup of coffee in a white mug on a wooden table near a window.

Greetings from the National Library of Medicine and MedlinePlus.gov

Regards to all our listeners!

I'm Rob Logan, Ph.D., senior staff, U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Here is what's new this week in To Your Health, a consumer health oriented podcast from NLM, that helps you use MedlinePlus to follow up on weekly topics.

Coffee consumption may reduce mortality risks, suggests a comprehensive study recently published in Circulation.

The article's 10 authors explain the reduced risk of death varied as adults drank coffee.

For example, the study found:

Compared to non-coffee drinkers, adults who drank more than five cups of coffee had a 12 percent reduced mortality risk

Adults who drank three to five cups reduced their mortality risk by 15 percent (compared to abstainers)

Adults who drank one to three cups reduced their mortality risk by eight percent (compared to abstainers)

Adults who drank one cup of coffee a day reduced their mortality risk by six percent (compared to abstainers)

A significant association between reduced mortality and coffee consumption also persisted after the authors statistically controlled for risk factors, such as age, alcohol consumption, weight, and some diet and health predictors.

Coffee consumption additionally was associated with a reduced risk of death from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, neurological diseases and suicide — but not cancer.

Moreover, the therapeutic effect was sustained regardless if adults drank caffeinated or de-caffeinated coffee.

The findings are based on three, ongoing observational studies of about 200,000 men and women health professionals. More specifically, the findings are from the participants in round one and two of the Nurses' Health Study as well as the Health Professionals Follow-up Study.

The study's lead author, who is from the Harvard School of Public Health, told the New York Times(and we quote): 'Our study is observational, so it's hard to know if the positive effect is causal or not' (end of quote).

Meanwhile, the benefits of java are covered in a website from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics within the 'related issues' section of MedlinePlus.gov's caffeine health topic page.

A website from the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research provides an overview of how much caffeine (from all sources) is desirable within the 'start here' section of MedlinePlus.gov's caffeine health topic page.

MedlinePlus.gov's caffeine health topic page additionally provides links to the latest pertinent journal research articles, which are available in the 'journal articles' section. Links to clinical trials that may be occurring in your area are available in the 'clinical trials' section. You also can sign up to receive updates about caffeine as they become available on MedlinePlus.gov.

To find MedlinePlus.gov's caffeine health topic page, please type 'caffeine' in the search box on MedlinePlus.gov's home page, then, click on 'caffeine (National Library of Medicine).'

I should note it is fun to end 2015 by noting some evidence that a treat (for some) also may be therapeutic. And, to anticipate a question, the research did not assess if a particular type or brand of caffeinated or de-caffeinated coffee is better (or worse) for you.

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A disclaimer — the information presented in this program should not replace the medical advice of your physician. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any disease without first consulting with your physician or other health care provider.

I want to take the opportunity to wish you a very happy holiday season and a healthy New Year. The National Library of Medicine and the podcast staff appreciate your interest and company — and we hope to find new ways to serve you in 2016.

Please join us here next week and here's to your health!