From About.com

Women Coffee Drinkers May Have Fewer Strokes

Thursday February 19, 2009
New data from the Nurses’ Health Study finds an association between drinking four or more cups of coffee per day and a reduced risk of stroke.In the Nurses’ Health Study, various characteristics were assessed in over 83,000 women who had no history of coronary artery disease, stroke, cancer or diabetes, and the women were then followed for the next 24 years. During this time, coffee consumption was reassessed among participants every few years.

Investigators were initially concerned that coffee might increase the risk of stroke. However, it turned out that women who drank more than two cups of coffee per day over a long period of time actually had a reduced risk of stroke, and the degree of risk reduction was maximum (roughly a 20% reduction in risk) at four or more cups per day. In making this assessment, investigators took into acccount other risk factors these women may have had for stroke, and the association between coffee drinking and reduced risk held up – with the following exception.

Notably, the reduction in risk associated with coffee drinking was NOT seen in women who were also smokers. Smoking cancels out this apparent benefit altogether.

The only other comment that begs to be made is that if this study were begun today, it would have to receive a different name – since nursing is no longer a profession for women only.

Sources:

Lopez-Garcia E, Rodriguez-Artalejo F, Rexrode KM, et al. Coffee consumption and risk of stroke in women. Circulation 2009; DOI:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.108.826164.

Another source:

http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2009/02/20/coffee-or-tea-consumption-may-lower-stroke-risk.html

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