Coffee and heart disease: the hypothesis re-examined
Vandongen, R.
Medical Journal of Australia 148(4): 161-162
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-729X PMID: 3277015 Document Number: 314369
The history of the link between coffee intake, hypercholesterolaemia and coronary heart disease (CHD) is traced through several major studies. Critical evaluation of these studies shows a lack of control for the effects of other lifestyle or personality factors which may be associated with heavy coffee consumption or development of CHD. Studies reporting no link between coffee intake and CHD are also discussed. It is concluded that until there is an intervention study of sufficient duration, which has been controlled adequately with subjects matched for covariants known to influence plasma cholesterol, and with careful monitoring of diet, alcohol intake, exercise and other variables which may affect blood lipids, the case against coffee must remain not proven.