Coffee Prevents Heart Attacks, Study Says

Drinking up to five cups of coffee a day could help prevent heart disease, new research has found.

A team of experts studied a group of more than 25,000 Korean men and women with an average age of 41.

They had no previous signs of heart disease.

Their coffee consumption was listed as none, less than one cup a day, one to three cups a day, three to five cups a day and five or more every day.

The researchers discovered those who drank between three and five cups were less likely to show signs of heart disease.

Kangbuk Samsung Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, led the research.

The authors concluded: "Our study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that coffee consumption might be inversely associated with CVD (cardiovascular disease) risk.

"Further research is warranted to confirm our findings and establish the biological basis of coffee's potential preventive effects on coronary artery disease."

Victoria Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation, said: "While this study does highlight a potential link between coffee consumption and lower risk of developing clogged arteries, more research is needed to confirm these findings and understand what the reason is for the association."

The researchers were looking for the presence of coronary artery calcium - an early indicator in heart disease.

People who drank a few cups of coffee each day were less likely to have visible calcium deposits in their arteries.