Caffeine is the most widely used stimulant and psychoactive substance in the world, and coffee is how most people consume it. According to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association, most adults can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine/day (or up to five 8-ounce cups of caffeinated coffee per day). For some people, moderate coffee consumption may also be associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
The picture changes at higher doses. Concentrated sources of caffeine, especially energy drinks including energy shots, may raise the risk of cardiovascular problems. The findings were published in the American Heart Association's flagship peer-reviewed journal Circulation in the scientific statement "Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease."
"Caffeine consumed in coffee is a key part of daily life for millions of people, and in our review of the most recent research, for most adults, intake of up to 400 mg of caffeine/day, the equivalent of up to 5 cups of caffeinated coffee per day without added sugars or fillers, is safe and does not increase cardiovascular risk," said Chair of the scientific statement volunteer writing group Gregory M. Marcus, M.D., M.A.S., FAHA, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine and the associate chief of Cardiology for Research at the University of California, San Francisco Health. "However, high doses of caffeine, such as those found in energy drinks including energy shots, may have harmful effects on the heart and should be avoided."
