New findings presented at the American College of Cardiology 2022 scientific session showed that the morning beverage that we all love/crave so much may be doing better things for our health than simply waking us from our slumber. A study in Kidney International Reports showed that drinking in any amount of coffee reduces the incidence of acute kidney injury and may have cardioprotective effects. Coffee is one the most widely consumed beverages worldwide, it has been shown to have positive associations in the prevention of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease.

Caffeine is one of the world’s most studied compounds found in coffee. This is not surprising considering in the UK we drink 98 million cups of coffee daily. There have been a number of studies that have shown habitual coffee consumption is associated with the prevention of chronic and degenerative diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and liver disease. It’s a good thing we like the darn stuff so much.

A large population study known as the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study which consisted of 14,207 participants aged 45 – 64 years, who self-reported daily coffee consumption demonstrated that higher daily coffee consumption was associated with a lower risk of chronic kidney disease after adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic status, clinical, dietary and lifestyle factors. Coffee consumption, therefore, has a strong potential for reducing the risk of progressive kidney disease.

There may be associated cardiorenal protective effects, as many of these polyphenol compounds are potent plant-based antioxidants that have been shown to improve generalized inflammation and oxidative stress.

Participants in the study who consumed any amount of coffee had a 15% lower risk of developing a kidney injury compared with individuals who never drank coffee at all. For the group that drank 2 – 3 cups of coffee per day 22% - 23% lower risk of a kidney injury. There is thought that this could be due to the bioactive compounds and/or the caffeine in coffee which can improve kidney oxygenation and renal plasma flow. Caffeine will modify kidney function through changes in natriuresis (sodium loss in urine), kidney hemodynamics, and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system which are all important factors in the development of kidney injuries, particularly in those groups which are high-risk i.e. previous illness, injury or comorbidities. Other nonrenal mechanisms but potentially protective effects such as reducing inflammation, enhanced endothelial function, and improved insulin sensitivity.

Although this study covered a wide demographic of communities in the US there are some limitations to the study, the recording relied on individuals’ recollection rather than direct measurement, coffee type, brewing differences, roasting temperature, and grind size may all have effects on the bioactive compounds present.

This study does show that 1 – 3 cups of coffee can be beneficial to our health by reducing our chance of kidney disease and potentially improving our cardiovascular however, there are bigger levers we can pull if we are trying to improve our health parameters. Regular exercise both resistance and cardiovascular-based, improved nutrition, decreasing processed foods and increasing lean proteins, fibre, fruits, and vegetables, good sleep, and regular physical activity. Additionally, with coffee and caffeine, there will be individual tolerances that should be factored into any decision you make with too much caffeine likely having a negative effect. As with everything moderation is probably key here.

If you would like to read the full study you can see it here:

Could Coffee be Cardio Protective?