Acute Effects of Coffee Consumption on Healthy Adults
Coffee drinkers increased step counts but potentially reduced sleep minutes.
This study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine (Marcus GM et al., 2023), investigated how coffee consumption impacts heart rhythms, physical activity, and sleep in healthy adults. The randomised trial provides new insights into coffee's acute effects on health metrics.
PMID: 36947466
Key Points
Aim
The primary aim was to assess whether coffee consumption influences:
Heart rhythms, specifically premature atrial and ventricular contractions.
Physical activity, measured by daily step counts.
Sleep duration, measured in minutes.
Methods
Participants: 100 ambulatory adults (baseline characteristics provided in the study).
Design: Randomised crossover trial where participants alternated between days of coffee consumption and caffeine avoidance.
Data Collection:
Heart rhythm: Monitored using continuous electrocardiographic devices.
Physical activity: Measured via step-count data from wearable devices.
Sleep: Assessed using sleep-tracking technology.
Results
Heart Rhythms:
Coffee consumption did not increase premature atrial contractions (a potential marker for atrial fibrillation risk).
Coffee consumption was associated with a significant increase in premature ventricular contractions, which are linked to certain heart conditions.
Physical Activity:
Participants took significantly more steps on coffee-consumption days compared to caffeine-avoidance days.
Sleep Duration:
Coffee consumption was associated with reduced sleep duration (fewer minutes asleep).
