According to a study published in the World Journal of Psychiatry, drinking coffee reduces the risk of suicide in adults. The study was conducted by Harvard school of public health. They reviewed the data from three different U.S studies. This includes Health Professionals Follow-up study (HPFS), in 43,599 men, the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) conducted in 73,820 women and another Nurses’ health study of 91,005 women. The reviewed data contained information regarding coffee consumption, caffeine consumption and consumption of decaffeinated coffee for every four years. The data were collected through food- frequency questionnaires. The physician’s review of death certificates provided data about deaths from suicide.
71 % Caffeine Is From Coffee
While calculating the caffeine consumption all sources of caffeine such as coffee, chocolates, caffeinated soft drinks, tea etc. was taken into consideration. According to researchers the maximum source of caffeine was from the coffee which comes to about 71 % in all the studies considered. During the study period 277 deaths were reported as a result of suicide.
Lower Suicide Risk
The study results revealed that the suicide risk was 50 % less in adults who took 2-4 cups of coffee every day. The adults who drank very little coffee or no coffee or decaffeinated coffee did not have any effect on suicide risk. However there were no differences in the suicide risk between people who consumed 2-3 cups of coffee per day and people who consumed 4 or more than four cups a day. Researchers say that this may be due to the negligible number of suicides in these groups.
High Levels Cause Depression
Some previous analysis of the HSPH has revealed that high levels of coffee consumption can heighten depression in people. Consuming more than four cups of coffee is not considered as healthy. Researchers are of opinion that as well as providing stimulation to the central nervous system, the caffeine in coffee can act as an anti – depressant. Caffeine increases the production of some neurotransmitters in the brain called dopamine, serotonin and noradrenalin. They provide a happy feeling to the person. This may be the reason why coffee consumption was considered to reduce risk of depression.
Use It Wisely
The researchers say that the result of the study does not indicate that the coffee consumption should be increased in order to reduce suicide risk. The researchers recommend a coffee intake of about 2-4 cups per day by an average healthy person. According to experts, consumption of too much caffeine can cause unpleasant side effects in humans. Some of the side effects are nervousness, vomiting, insomnia, muscle tremors, faster heart beats, restlessness etc. It has been found that people who are suffering from depression has a high risk of suicide. So, it is necessary that you should not consume more than 4 cups of coffee per day. If you are a person not taking coffee start taking coffee to keep yourself happy and reduce the suicide risk. If you are consuming more than four cups of coffee, reduce it so that you don’t fall into depression conditions and increase your suicide chances.
