Researchers at Canada’s McMaster University found that regular caffeine consumption was linked to lower levels of a protein called PCSK9 in the bloodstream.
Low levels of this protein boost the liver’s ability to break down LDL cholesterol, the “bad” type that can clog arteries and lead to cardiovascular disease.
In the study, whose results were published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers also found that caffeine also inhibits the activation of another protein called SREBP2, which in turn also reduces PCSK9 levels in the blood.
“The results of the study revealed the basic mechanism by which caffeine and its derivatives can reduce the levels of PCSK9 in the blood, and thus reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease,” the study’s senior author, Richard Austin, noted.
The researchers warned that mixing coffee with sugar or cream would cancel out any benefits of caffeine, noting also the danger of consuming energy drinks that also contain this compound.