Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease
Updated: July 20, 2026
- Studies of caffeine, one of the most commonly consumed drugs in the world, are largely observational, meaning that confounding by other factors remains an important consideration in interpreting the majority of scientific results. Therefore, more randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of caffeine on cardiovascular health are needed.
- The majority of impactful studies investigating relationships between caffeine and cardiovascular health examine caffeine occurring in natural substances, mainly coffee. Therefore, it is often difficult to disentangle effects that may be related to caffeine itself versus other constituents of those commonly consumed substances.
- Evidence derived from studies of caffeinated coffee consumed in normal amounts should not be extrapolated to caffeinated energy drinks. Case reports have generally suggested harm, primarily related to arrhythmias, of energy drink consumption, providing evidence that more research on this topic is needed.
Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease
Gregory M. Marcus, MD, MAS, FAHA, Chair and Frank B. Hu, MD, MPH, PhD, FAHA, Vice Chair introduce the new Scientific Statement on Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease, and discuss the current research on caffeine and cardiovascular health, highlighting its potential benefits, risks, and clinical implications.