A few cups of coffee can lower suicide risk in adults, a study conducted by Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) suggests.
According to the study, caffeine in coffee stimulates the nervous system and also activates the production of some neurotransmitters in the brain such as serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline. Thus, acting as a mild as anti-depressant.
"Unlike previous investigations, we were able to assess association of consumption of caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages, and we identify caffeine as the most likely candidate of any putative protective effect of coffee," lead researcher Michel Lucas, a research fellow in the Department of Nutrition at HSPH, said.
For the study, the researchers evaluated data from 43,599 male participants in the Health Professionals Follow Up Study (HPFS) between 1988 and 2008, and 73,820 female participants in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) between 1992 and 2008. Another set of 91,005 women in a separate NHS study between 1993 and 2007 were also studied.
The researchers analyzed the information given by the participants on their intake of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee. They also took other drinks such as soft drinks, chocolate and tea, which are other sources of caffeine, into account. However, coffee was the prime source of caffeine with nearly 71 percent.
The study authors recorded 277 deaths throughout the research. The study further revealed that people who consumed around two-four cups of coffee every day had 50 percent lesser chances of suicide risk compared to those who drank decaffeinated coffee, very less or no coffee.
"This is because most individuals adjust their caffeine intake to an optimal level for them and an increase could result in unpleasant side effects. Overall, our results suggest that there is little further benefit for consumption above two to three cups/day or 400 mg of caffeine/days," the researchers wrote.
However, on a precautionary note, researchers advised the depressed adults to seek medical attention rather than simply consuming coffee for treatment. They warned that excess intake of caffeine can lead to insomnia, nervousness, restlessness, muscle tremors and increased heartbeat.
