Is It Time to Smell the Coffee?

Among Swedish women, drinking little or no coffee was associated with higher stroke risk.

Coffee is widely consumed, yet its relation to stroke risk remains unknown. Some have posited that the phenolic compounds in coffee might have antioxidant properties that improve endothelial function, whereas others have suggested that the caffeine in coffee might be detrimental to health. As part of the Swedish Mammography Cohort study (a prospective, population-based assessment of health status in 34,670 women who were free of cardiovascular disease at entry), participants completed food-frequency questionnaires that included questions about coffee consumption. Intake was stratified (<1, 1–2, 3–4, or ≥5 cups daily); because decaffeinated coffee is uncommon in Sweden, coffee type was not addressed.

During a mean follow-up of 10.4 years, 168…

Reviewing Author

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

JoAnne M. Foody, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardAegerion; Amarin; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Janssen; Merck; Pfizer; Sanofi-Aventis; Boehringer Ingelheim

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Cardiology, Cardiosmart (Co-chair)

Is It Time to Smell the Coffee?

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Reviewing Author