J Nutr

How do you take your coffee? Implications for mortality benefit

June 4, 2025

Higher coffee intake was linked to lower all-cause mortality; however, mortality benefits were only seen with black coffee or coffee with low amounts of added sugar and saturated fat, according to this prospective cohort study.

• Study. This U.S.-based prospective cohort study (N = 46,332 adults, aged 20+ years) included National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 1999 to 2018 and linked it to National Death Index Mortality Data. Details from 24-h dietary recalls were used to categorize coffee consumption: number of cups per day, caffeinated/decaffeinated type, sugar, and saturated fat. Outcomes included mortality from all causes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease, over a median follow-up of 9.3–11.3 years.
• Results. 7,074 deaths occurred over the follow-up period, including 1,176 deaths from cancer and 1,089 from cardiovascular disease. Greater coffee consumption was linked with lower all-cause mortality. However, mortality benefits were seen only with black coffee or coffee with low added sugar (<2.5 gm/8 oz) and low saturated fat (<1 gm/8 oz).

Source:

Zhou B, et al. (2025, May 12). J Nutr. Coffee Consumption and Mortality among United States Adults: A Prospective Cohort Study. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40368300/