ABSTRACT:
Coffee consumption may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension, as well as other conditions associated with cardiovascular risk such as obesity and depression; but it may adversely affect lipid profiles depending on how the beverage is prepared. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of lifestyle diseases and their association with coffee consumption among people aged 40 years and above. A questionnaire was prepared and distributed among 300 random respondents in Greentown, Ipoh. Results showed that 85% of participants consumed coffee and majority usually drank 2 cups of coffee per day for more than 20 years. Only few got hypertension, ischemic heart disease, hypertension and obesity but that might be due to genetics or taking too much of coffee with sugar. Caffeine, in moderate daily doses of ~300 mg, or ~3 cups of coffee, appeared to be safe and harmless for healthy adults. However, most of the data on health effects due to coffee consumption were based on observation only and association did not prove causation.