Coffee cuts stroke risk in women

Low or no coffee consumption was associated with a higher risk of stroke in a study of 34,670 women, aged between 49 and 83 years, followed for an average 10.4 years.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. "Therefore, even small health effects of substances in coffee may have large public health consequences," said Susanna Larsson, study leader at the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, the journal Stroke reports.

Groups which reported drinking one to two cups daily, three-four cups per day or five or more cups daily, had similar benefits compared with those who reported daily intake of less than a cup of coffee, researchers said, according to a Karolinska statement.

The differences were unchanged by smoking status, body mass index, history of diabetes, hypertension or alcohol consumption, indicating that coffee's effects are not influenced by those known as cardiovascular risk factors.

Potential ways by which coffee drinking might reduce stroke risk include inflammation, reducing oxidative stress and improving insulin sensitivity, Larsson said.