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Consuming espresso can shield in opposition to atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), a standard coronary heart rhythm dysfunction that causes fast, irregular heartbeat and might result in stroke and coronary heart failure.
Docs sometimes suggest that folks with coronary heart points like A-Fib keep away from caffeine out of concern that it’s going to set off signs. However a examine by UC San Francisco and the College of Adelaide has concluded that ingesting a cup of caffeinated espresso a day lowered A-Fib by 39%.
“Coffee increases physical activity which is known to reduce atrial fibrillation,” mentioned Gregory M. Marcus, MD, MAS, who holds the Endowed Professorship in Atrial Fibrillation Analysis and is an electrophysiologist at UCSF Well being. Marcus is the senior writer of the paper, which seems Nov. 9 in JAMA. “Caffeine is also a diuretic, which could potentially reduce blood pressure and in turn lessen A-Fib risk. Several other ingredients in coffee also have anti-inflammatory properties that could have positive effects.”
A-Fib has been growing in recent times together with weight problems and the getting older inhabitants. A-Fib, which has been identified in additional than 10 million U.S. adults, is estimated to have an effect on as much as 1 in 3 individuals.
Researchers named their examine DECAF for Does Eliminating Espresso Keep away from Fibrillation? It’s the first randomized scientific trial to research the hyperlink between caffeinated espresso and A-Fib.
The examine enrolled 200 coffee-drinking sufferers with persistent atrial fibrillation, or a associated situation referred to as atrial flutter together with a historical past of A-Fib. They have been scheduled for electrical cardioversion, which provides a single electrical shock to shift the guts into a traditional rhythm. They have been randomly assigned both to eat a minimum of one cup of caffeinated espresso or an espresso shot every day—or abstain from espresso and different merchandise that comprise caffeine for six months.
The group that consumed espresso had a 39% decrease threat of recurrent A-Fib episodes. Along with its anti-inflammatory results, researchers speculated that ingesting espresso may additionally scale back the danger of A-Fib just by making individuals eat fewer unhealthy drinks.
“The results were astounding,” mentioned first writer Christopher X. Wong, Ph.D., of UCSF and the College of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital. “Doctors have always recommended that patients with problematic A-Fib minimize their coffee intake, but this trial suggests that coffee is not only safe but likely to be protective.”
Extra info:
Christopher X. Wong et al, Caffeinated Espresso Consumption or Abstinence to Scale back Atrial Fibrillation, JAMA (2025). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2025.21056
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College of California, San Francisco
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Research challenges recommendation to keep away from espresso for these with atrial fibrillation (2025, November 9)
retrieved 9 November 2025
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