Coffee, CYP1A2 Genotype, and Risk of Myocardial Infarction

Abstract

Epidemiologic studies examining the association between coffee consumption and risk of myocardial infarction(MI) have been inconclusive. Coffee is a major source of caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine), which is the most widely consumed stimulant in the world and has been implicated in the development of cardiovascular diseases such as acute MI. However, coffee contains a number of other chemicals that have variable effects on the cardiovascular system. Because of the strong collinearity between caffeine intake and coffee consumption in many populations, it is not clear whether caffeine alone affects the risk of MI or whether other chemicals found in coffee may be responsible. Furthermore, the association between coffee consumption and unhealthy lifestyle factors suggests that previous associations might have been due to residual confounding.