People who drink three to five cups of coffee a day may have a lower risk of clogged arteries that can cause serious heart problems, a study said Tuesday.
The South Korean research is the latest on the health effects of the popular brew, previously associated with a reduced risk of developing multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimers disease.
For the latest study, the team analysed data from 25,100 South Korean men and women, average age 41, who had undergone regular health screening.
None of the study group had any cardiovascular problems, but one in seven had detectable levels of coronary artery calcium (CAC) -- an early sign of coronary heart disease, or atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis occurs when a waxy compound called plaque lines the artery walls, limiting blood flow and potentially triggering dangerous blood clots.
The level of CAC was highest among those who had less than one cup or more than five cups daily, the researchers found. It was lowest among those who drank between three to five cups.
Cup size was not specified in the report.
The researchers said the result was the same for all population sub-groups, regardless of age, gender, smoking status, body fat, alcohol consumption or blood pressure levels.
"Moderate coffee consumption was associated with a lower prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis," said the study published in the journal Heart.
Further work is needed to explain why coffee appears to be protective, and whether the findings would hold true for other population groups.
The researchers cautioned that "our results were based on a sample of relatively healthy, young middle-aged, educated Koreans, and might not be generalisable to other populations."
Previous research has thrown up a mixed picture about coffee and its impact on health.
AFP RELAXNEWS
Tue Mar 03 2015
Research has thrown up a mixed picture about coffee and its impact on health. - Photo by Warren Goldswain/shutterstock.com
Titah Adendum di bawah kuasa Lembaga Pengampunan - Anwar
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tidak mahu terlibat dengan perbincangan membabitkan titah tambahan berhubung tahanan di rumah membabitkan bekas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Sambutan Aidilfitri Madani Peringkat Kebangsaan dI Sabah esok
Sambutan Aidilfitri bertemakan 'Perpaduan Melalui Perayaan' itu akan dirasmikan Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin dan diserikan lagi dengan kehadiran Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan Ketua Menteri Sabah Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Pemergian Joseph Kurup kehilangan besar buat negara - TPM
Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof menyifatkan mendian Joseph Kurup sebagai pemimpin yang sangat baik dan banyak menyumbang kepada pembangunan Sabah.
Joseph Kurup guru dan sahabat dalam politik - Hajiji
Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor menyifatkan mendian Tan Sri Joseph Kurup sebagai seorang yang sangat banyak berjasa bukan hanya kepada pembangunan Sabah malah mediang dianggap seperti mentornya dalam politik.
Inisiatif bekalan air bersih di pedalaman bakal jadi tumpuan sidang DUN Sarawak
Empat agensi air di bawah Kementerian Utiliti dan Telekomunikasi Sarawak sedang merangka inisiatif bagi memastikan sasaran 100 peratus bekalan air bersih di seluruh Sarawak menjelang 2030 tercapai.
Fenomena 'Alamak Raya Lagi' tarik minat kaum lain bersama raikan Aidilfitri
Lagu 'Alamak Raya Lagi' dendangan kumpulan De Fam terus mencetuskan fenomena apabila sekumpulan gadis berbangsa India turut menjadi tular.
Salleh harap Sabah diberi kuasa autonomi seperti Sarawak
Jelas Datuk Seri Mohd Salleh Mohd Saidisu kritikal membabitkan kesihatan di Sabah akan dapat diselesaikan sekiranya negeri itu diberi kuasa autonomi kesihatan.
Abang Jo kongsi perancangan sarawak di Eropah minggu depan
Premier Sarawak Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg dijemput sebagai ahli panel dalam Forum Teknologi Hidrogen Eropah dan Forum Penyahkarbonan Eropah Tengah di Poland pada 24-25 April ini.
Nancy harap tindakan segera diambil kurangkan populasi buaya
Populasi buaya yang semakin meningkat di Sarawak dipercayai mencetuskan konflik antara reptilia itu dan manusia sehingga mencetuskan beberapa siri serangan buaya ke atas manusia.
Warga emas cari lokan disyaki dibaham buaya masih belum ditemui
Pasukan SAR bagi mencari Minu Kin, warga emas yang dipercayai dibaham buaya ketika mencari kolan di Sungai Rayu, Lundu pada Rabu lalu masih gagal menemui sebarang petunjuk selepas tiga hari operasi dijalankan.