Moderate Coffee and Tea Intake Linked to Lower Heart Disease Risk

Author: American Heart Association
Published: 2010/06/19 - Updated: 2025/05/25
Publication Details: Peer-Reviewed, Research, Study, Analysis
Category Topic: Herbalism and Herbs - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This article summarizes findings from a large Dutch study published in a reputable cardiovascular journal, highlighting that both high and moderate tea consumption, as well as moderate coffee intake, are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and heart disease-related deaths. Specifically, drinking more than six cups of tea daily was linked to a 36% lower risk of heart disease, while three to six cups correlated with a 45% reduction in heart disease mortality compared to those drinking less than one cup per day. Moderate coffee consumption (two to four cups daily) was linked to a 20% lower risk of heart disease. Importantly, neither beverage was associated with stroke risk, and the benefits appeared independent of other lifestyle factors. The study's authority stems from its publication in a peer-reviewed journal and its robust design, tracking over 37,000 participants for 13 years. This information is particularly useful for seniors and individuals with disabilities, as it suggests that moderate, regular consumption of coffee and tea can be safely enjoyed as part of a heart-healthy lifestyle, potentially offering accessible and enjoyable ways to support cardiovascular health - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

Coffee or tea: enjoy both in moderation for heart benefits - High and moderate consumption of tea and moderate coffee consumption are linked with reduced heart disease.

Main Content

Study Highlights:

• Moderate amounts of coffee are linked with reduced heart disease risk.
• Both high and moderate amounts of tea are linked with reduced heart disease deaths.
• Neither coffee nor tea consumption was associated with stroke risk in this Dutch study.

Coffee and tea drinkers may not need to worry about indulging - high and moderate consumption of tea and moderate coffee consumption are linked with reduced heart disease, according to a study published in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology - Journal of the American Heart Association.

Researchers in The Netherlands found:

• Drinking more than six cups of tea per day was associated with a 36 percent lower risk of heart disease compared to those who drank less than one cup of tea per day.
• Drinking three to six cups of tea per day was associated with a 45 percent reduced risk of death from heart disease, compared to consumption of less than one cup per day.

And for coffee they found:

• Although not considered significant, moderate coffee consumption slightly reduced the risk of heart disease death and deaths from all causes.
• Coffee drinkers with a modest intake, two to four cups per day, had a 20 percent lower risk of heart disease compared to those drinking less than two cups or more than four cups.

Researchers also found that neither coffee nor tea consumption affected stroke risk.

"While previous studies have shown that coffee and tea seem to reduce the risk of heart disease, evidence on stroke risk and the risk of death from heart disease was not conclusive," said Yvonne T. van der Schouw, Ph.D., study senior author and professor of chronic disease epidemiology, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. "Our results found the benefits of drinking coffee and tea occur without increasing risk of stroke or death from all causes."

Van der Schouw and colleagues used a questionnaire to evaluate coffee and tea consumption among 37,514 participants. They followed the participants for 13 years for occurrences of cardiovascular disease and death.

Study limitations included self-reported tea and coffee consumption, and the lack of specific information on the type of tea participants drank. However, black tea accounts for 78 percent of the total tea consumed in The Netherlands and green tea accounts for 4.6 percent.

Coffee and tea drinkers have very different health behaviors, researchers note. Many coffee drinkers tend to also smoke and have a less healthy diet compared to tea drinkers.

Researchers suggest that the cardiovascular benefit of drinking tea may be explained by antioxidants. Flavonoids in tea are thought to contribute to reduced risk, but the underlying mechanism is still not known.

Co-authors

J. Margot de Koning Gans, M.D.; Cuno S.P.M. Uiterwaal, M.D., Ph.D.; Joline W.J. Beulens, Ph.D.; Jolanda M.A. Boer, Ph.D.; Diederick E. Grobbee, M.D., Ph.D.; and W.M. Monique Verschuren, Ph.D. Author disclosures and funding sources are in the study.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by American Heart Association and published on 2010/06/19, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.