Coffee Myths: Caffeine doesn't cause atrial fibrillation

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MunichThose who rarely drink coffee or are sensitive to caffeine often feel doped after drinking a cup. Elevated blood pressure and racing pulse are possible consequences. But can coffee also bring the heart out of sync? No, according to a comprehensive meta-study by Chinese scientists.

The team led by Dongfeng Gu from Beijing examined a total of 228,465 test subjects. They determined the caffeine intake on the basis of information on the consumption of coffee, tea, cola, cocoa and chocolate. The scientists drew the line between low and high amounts of caffeine at 500 milligrams per day. That corresponds to 5 to 10 cups of coffee. The observation period was between four and 25 years.

Heart to the beat with lots of coffee

There was evidence of impending atrial fibrillation in 1.9 percent of all participants. However, the scientists could not find a connection between caffeine intake and atrial fibrillation. On the contrary: Those who drank a lot of coffee even had a ten percent lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation. If possible disruptive factors were excluded during the investigation, the risk of heart problems fell by 11 percent with a low caffeine intake and by 16 percent with a higher one.

Please do not drink coffee

Nevertheless, Gu and his colleagues advise against pumping the body with as much caffeine as possible. Other studies argue against the fact that “more caffeine” is synonymous with “more health”. There have been reports of heart problems in adolescents after excessive coffee consumption.

Mechanism remains a mystery

However, the experts do not yet know why coffee lowers the risk of cardiac arrhythmias. In the liver, caffeine ensures that less connective tissue is deposited. The researchers suspect that a similar mechanism could also exist in the heart. Because the increased deposition of connective tissue (fibrosis) is one of the main causes of cardiac arrhythmias.

The study is in line with the results of an earlier meta-analysis published by Portuguese scientists in 2013. 116,000 subjects took part in this study. The myth that caffeine causes atrial fibrillation can definitely be dispelled. (away)

Sources: Gu et al .: Caffeine intake and atrial fibrillation incidence: Dose response Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies, Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 2014

Caldeira et al., Caffeine does not increase the risk of atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies, Heart, 2013

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