Coffee lovers who've suffered a heart attack don't have to restrict their daily caffeine intake, Brazilian scientists say.
A small randomised trial, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, found no link between high doses of caffeine and an increased risk of arrhythmias - that is irregular heartbeats - in patients with heart failure.
Scientists from the Federal Unversity of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil conducted the trial and say the results challenge the perception that patients with heart disease who are at risk of arrhythmia should limit their caffeine intake.
But the Australian Heart Foundation says the "underpowered" study won't be changing its recommendation on caffeine consumption.
The study included 51 patients: 25 were assigned to receive decaffeinated coffee with caffeine powder and 26 received decaffeinated coffee with placebo lactose powder.
The coffee drinks were ingested at one-hour intervals during a five-hour period.
No association between caffeine ingestion and arrhythmic episodes was found, even during the physical stress of a treadmill test.
"To date, there is no solid evidence to support the common recommendation to limit moderate caffeine consumption in patients at risk for arrhythmias," the authors of the report said.
The Australian Heart Foundation says light to moderate coffee drinking is safe, even for people with heart disease.
A Heart Foundation spokesperson says all the Brazilian study highlights is that some people with heart failure can get away with a certain amount of caffeine without getting arrhythmia.
