New research suggests drinking coffee during these hours helps lower the risk of early mortality

As coffee remains a beloved beverage worldwide, a new study suggests that the timing of consumption could influence longevity. Researchers have discovered that drinking coffee during specific hours may correlate with a lower risk of early mortality, adding a new layer to our understanding of coffee’s health effects.

Recent studies have shown that coffee drinkers might actually be on the path to better health, with links to improved heart health and a longer life. But here’s the twist: the timing of your coffee consumption matters.

According to a study published in the European Heart Journal, it seems that limiting coffee intake to the morning could be the best approach. This finding suggests that the benefits of coffee aren’t just about how much you drink, but also when you drink it. So, for those who love their morning brew, it might be time to embrace that early cup of coffee even more.

The study, led by Dr. Lu Qi from Tulane University, is significant as it is the first to examine the timing of coffee consumption and its health outcomes. In a news release, Dr. Qi emphasized that while dietary guidance typically does not include timing advice, this study suggests that it may be an important factor to consider in the future.

Previous research has generally found that moderate coffee consumption is linked to lower risks of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and premature death. However, the new study points out that there has been inconsistent or controversial scientific evidence regarding how factors like genetics, the amount of coffee consumed, and the use of sweeteners influence these health outcomes. This highlights the need for further investigation into how the timing of coffee consumption might play a role in health.

The authors examined the dietary and health information of 40,725 adults aged 18 and older, collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2018. Over a span of 10 cycles, participants reported their food intake from the previous day. Additionally, they included a subgroup of 1,463 adults from both the men’s and women’s versions of the Lifestyle Validation Study, who had kept at least one week of dietary records.

The study looked at both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, categorizing consumption into three time frames: morning (4 a.m. to 11:59 a.m.), afternoon (12 p.m. to 4:59 p.m.), and evening (5 p.m. to 3:59 a.m.). The researchers identified two main patterns of coffee consumption: drinking it only in the morning or throughout the day.

After a median follow-up period of nearly 10 years, there were 4,295 deaths recorded from all causes, including 1,268 from cardiovascular disease and 934 from cancer.

In comparison to individuals who do not drink coffee, those who consume it only in the morning showed a 16% decreased likelihood of dying prematurely from any cause and a 31% lower chance of death from cardiovascular disease. However, those who drank coffee throughout the day did not experience any reduction in risk. These results held true even after the researchers accounted for various factors such as hours of sleep, age, race, ethnicity, gender, family income, education, levels of physical activity, dietary habits, and health issues like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.

For those who drink coffee in the morning, it didn’t make a difference whether they consumed caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee, or how much they drank—whether it was less than one cup or more than three cups per day. The key point is that having coffee in the morning was associated with a lower mortality risk compared to other drinking patterns.

Why does the timing matter?

Dr. David Kao, who was not part of the research, described the study as “fascinating” and one of the best investigations on this topic in years. Kao, who holds the Jacqueline Marie Schauble Leaffer Endowed Chair in Women’s Heart Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz, noted in an email that the study’s highlights include the use of a machine learning-style approach to categorize coffee drinking patterns and the validation of findings across multiple external data sources that are different from the primary source. This greatly reduces the chance of accidental or false positive results.

The limitations: While the study offers valuable insights into coffee consumption, it also has some shortcomings. 

Firstly, the authors noted that self-reported dietary intake can be prone to inaccuracies or biases and may not reflect long-term habits accurately. 

Secondly, although the authors took several confounding factors into account, they acknowledged that there might be other confounders that could not be completely eliminated.

The study stated, “could not exclude the possibility that the morning-type coffee drinking pattern is a marker for an overall healthy lifestyle. For example, morning-type coffee drinkers may be more willing to exercise and eat non-ultra-processed foods.” 

Additionally, the lack of genetic information meant that the authors could not investigate the potential effects of genetically determined caffeine metabolism rates.

Benefits of drinking coffee: A recent comprehensive review has explored the scientific evidence linking coffee to healthy aging. The experts found that drinking coffee daily could potentially add up to two years of healthy life to our lifespan.

How does this happen? 

Reduced mortality risk: Coffee has been associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality in over 50 studies. Research shows that coffee can significantly contribute to reducing the risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory diseases, cognitive decline, and frailty.

The review indicated that regular coffee consumption might extend healthy living by an average of 1.8 years. This implies that coffee not only helps us live longer but also enhances our health during those extra years. Interestingly, unlike some dietary interventions that may have different effects based on gender, the increased healthy life expectancy linked to coffee consumption was observed in both men and women.

Biological aging: The review explored how coffee influences biological processes related to aging. These processes include reducing genomic instability, which refers to cell mutations that contribute to aging, and enhancing normal cellular function. To ensure accuracy, the review focused on studies involving humans and human tissues, giving a clearer understanding of coffee’s health benefits. 

Traditionally, clinical recommendations for older adults have often advised limiting or even avoiding coffee. However, this review indicates that these guidelines may need to be reevaluated in light of increasing evidence that supports coffee’s beneficial effects on healthy aging.