A recent study has revealed that individuals who consume coffee primarily in the morning may experience a lower risk of mortality compared to non-coffee drinkers. Conducted by Dr. Lu Qi and his team at the Tulane University’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, the research highlights the importance of not just the quantity of coffee consumed, but also when it is consumed.
The study involved a diverse group of participants, almost half of whom (48%) were identified as non-coffee drinkers. The remaining participants were categorized into two distinct groups based on their coffee consumption habits: the "morning-type" group and the "all-day-type" group. Approximately one-third of the participants fell into the morning-type category, consuming nearly all of their coffee before noon and avoiding consumption in the afternoon or evening. Conversely, 16% of participants were classified as all-day drinkers, preferring to spread their coffee intake throughout the day and into the evening.
Experts warn that consuming coffee later in the day might disrupt sleep patterns. According to Dr. Qi, “Late drinking of coffee may disturb sleeping and hormones such as melatonin, which affect the body’s circadian rhythm; this may partly account for the observations.” The findings suggest that morning coffee drinkers enjoy significant health benefits, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and overall mortality, compared to those who drink coffee throughout the day or not at all.
Dr. Qi emphasized that while the study presents compelling data, it does not establish a causal relationship between morning coffee consumption and reduced mortality risk. “I don’t think you can say timing of caffeine is an important factor in mitigating mortality risk….There is not a strong or rigorous scientific basis — at most there is an association with coffee intake,” he stated. Furthermore, he noted that individuals should consider limiting their coffee intake to morning hours, while acknowledging that further rigorous research is needed to substantiate any behavioral changes.
Thomas Lüscher, a consultant cardiologist and director at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals in the United Kingdom, provided an editorial perspective on the study. He indicated that “the body has a diurnal cycle of waking, going and relaxing, and eventually sleeping.” According to Lüscher, morning coffee aligns with this natural cycle, while continued consumption, particularly in the late afternoon, can disrupt sleep.
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