Whether you crave a hefty dose of caffeine or prefer the frothiness of a milky cappuccino, your regular coffee order could be telling you more about your cardio health than you think. In a world first among 390,435 people, researchers at the University of South Australia found causal genetic evidence that cardio health – as reflected in blood pressure and heart rate – influences coffee consumption.
Conducted in collaboration with the SAHMRI, the team found that people with high blood pressure, angina and arrhythmia were more likely to drink less coffee, drink decaffeinated coffee, or avoid coffee altogether compared to people without such symptoms, and that this was based on on genetics.
Lead researcher and director of UniSA's Australian Center for Precision Health, Professor Elina Hyppönen, says it's a positive finding that shows that our genetics actively regulate the amount of coffee we drink and protect us from consuming too much.
“People drink coffee for all sorts of reasons – when they're tired, because it tastes good, or simply because it's part of their daily routine,” says Prof. Hyppönen.
“But what we fail to recognize is that people unknowingly self-regulate safe caffeine levels based on how high their blood pressure is, and this is likely the result of a protective genetic mechanism.
“This means that someone who drinks a lot of coffee is likely to tolerate more caffeine genetically than someone who drinks very little.
“Conversely, a non-coffee drinker, or one who drinks decaffeinated coffee, is more likely to be susceptible to the adverse effects of caffeine, and more prone to high blood pressure.”
In Australia, one in four men and one in five women suffer from high blood pressure, with the condition being a risk factor for many chronic health problems, including stroke, heart failure and chronic kidney disease.
Using data from the UK Biobank, researchers examined the usual coffee consumption of 390,435 people, comparing it with baseline levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and baseline heart rate. Causal relationships were determined via Mendelian randomization.
Prof Hyppönen says how much coffee we drink is probably an indicator of our cardio health.
“Whether we drink a lot of coffee, a little, or avoid caffeine altogether, this study shows that genetics guide our decisions to protect our cardio health,” says Prof. Hyppönen.
“If your body tells you not to drink that extra cup of coffee, there's probably a reason for it. Listen to your body, it is more attuned to your health than you might think.”
