A groundbreaking study by UC San Francisco and the University of Adelaide has found that drinking coffee may actually protect against atrial fibrillation (A-Fib), a common heart rhythm disorder, contrary to traditional medical advice. The randomized clinical trial, called DECAF, enrolled 200 patients with persistent A-Fib or atrial flutter and found that those who consumed at least one cup of caffeinated coffee daily had a 39% lower risk of recurrent A-Fib episodes compared to those who abstained from caffeine. Researchers believe coffee’s protective effects may stem from multiple mechanisms, including increasing physical activity, acting as a diuretic that reduces blood pressure, and providing anti-inflammatory benefits.
This is the first randomized clinical trial to investigate the link between caffeinated coffee and A-Fib, challenging the long-standing recommendation that heart patients avoid caffeine. Overall, the findings suggest that coffee is not only safe for people with A-Fib but may actually be beneficial in preventing recurrent episodes of this condition, which affects up to one in three people and has been diagnosed in more than 10 million U.S. adults.
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