How does caffeine affect disease risk?

• Studies on caffeine’s effects on heart health have gained interest in recent years. One crucial question remains: How much caffeine is too much?
• In this roundup of the latest studies exploring the effects of caffeine on cardiovascular health, Medical News Today compiles the most recent evidence to highlight key findings and takeaways.
• Some studies suggest that consuming caffeine may help boost vascular health and lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, while others indicate that consuming too much may increase the risk of stroke.

Millions of people are regular coffee drinkers. Some people prefer to consume the popular caffeinated beverage in the morning to increase alertness and alleviate fatigue, while others consume it throughout the day for multiple other health benefits.

The most recent study on this topic, published inRheumatology on October 9, found that consuming more caffeine—found in sources such as coffee, tea, and cocoa—may help improve blood vessel health. What made this study particularly interesting was that it was conducted in patients with lupus, an autoimmune disease that has been tied to an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and cardiovascular disease.

But what does all the evidence so far say? Can coffee improve heart health, or does too much cause harm?

Building upon Medical News Today‘s regular in-depth reporting on studies related to heart health, this overview aims to provide a snapshot of the key pieces of research on caffeine‘s effects on the heart and overall health with experts’ views on these findings.