The Dallas-based American Heart Association (AHA) said drinking a cup of coffee a day actually might not be enough. A new study shows the relationship between caffeine and heart health is complex. “The latest research indicates consuming up to 5 cups (8 oz.) of caffeinated coffee per day (up to 400 mg of caffeine/day) is safe for most adults and may be linked to cardiovascular health benefits in some individuals,” according to a new AHA scientific statement. Health officials are now saying it “is generally safe for most adults and appears to be linked to a lower risk of several cardiovascular conditions, including heart failure, heart disease and stroke in some individuals.” “However, higher amounts of caffeine, such as levels found in energy drinks including energy shots, may increase the risk of high blood pressure and/or irregular heart rhythm or arrhythmia.” They add that more research is needed to understand caffeine’s impact on other parts of the body, how other sources of caffeine impact your heart, how impacts vary among different people, and the impact of additives. Previous studies have found that caffeine is the world’s most popular stimulant and psychoactive substance; coffee is the most common way people consume it. This study does not apply to energy drinks, tea, soda, or other forms of caffeine intake like chocolate or medications. It only applies to black coffee without additives. A regular brewed, non-specialty, caffeinated coffee typically contains 9.4-20.6 mg of caffeine per fluid ounce, according to the AHA. Adding sugar, flavored syrups, milk and/or cream to coffee likely reduces its potential health benefits. Higher caffeine intake, such as levels found in energy drinks including energy shots, was associated with cardiovascular harm, such as increased risk of high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythm. Energy drink shots may contain 40-69 mg of caffeine per fluid ounce, 3-4 times more caffeine than regular caffeinated coffee. “Caffeine consumed in coffee is a key part of daily life for millions of people, and in our review of the most recent research, for most adults, intake of up to 400 mg of caffeine/day, the equivalent of up to 5 cups of caffeinated coffee per day without added sugars or fillers, is safe and does not increase cardiovascular risk,” said Chair of the scientific statement volunteer writing group Gregory M. Marcus, M.D., M.A.S., FAHA, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and the associate chief of Cardiology for Research at the University of California, San Francisco Health. “However, high doses of caffeine, such as those found in energy drinks including energy shots, may have harmful effects on the heart and should be avoided.” “Although research suggests that caffeine consumption may be associated with certain cardiovascular benefits for some people, it’s important to remember that there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ strategy for safe caffeine consumption. People can respond very differently to caffeine based on various factors, such as age, medications, underlying health conditions, genetics and how quickly their bodies metabolize it. What may be a reasonable amount for one person could cause unwanted effects, such as heart palpitations, anxiety or sleep disruption, in another. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to how your body responds to caffeine and talk with your healthcare team about what is right for you,” Marcus said. The authors said “the observed cardiovascular effects may be due to other compounds in coffee. For example, experimental studies suggest that the bioactive compounds in coffee may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may help explain some health benefits.” The authors add it’s hard to separate the effects of caffeine from added ingredients like milk, cream, flavored syrups and/or sugars; and most studies on caffeine are observational, so they cannot prove cause/effect. The new scientific statement details the most recent research primarily on caffeinated coffee and the potential impact of caffeine in coffee on high blood pressure, cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, other arrhythmias, and other cardiovascular conditions. The AHA said randomized trials have shown that caffeine consumption in coffee is associated with a lower risk of atrial fibrillation but also a higher risk of premature ventricular contractions. Read more about the study on the AHA website. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less