New Data Shows 55% of People Face Elevated MI Risk From High Coffee Intake

A significant proportion of the population carries genetic variants that impair caffeine metabolism, according to findings highlighted in the GMJ Newsroom. The CYP1A2 rs762551 polymorphism divides individuals into metabolizer classes: approximately 45% are fast metabolisers with 3-hour caffeine half-lives, while 55% carry slow-allele variants extending half-life to 6–10 hours. Among slow metabolisers, consuming 4 or more cups of coffee daily is associated with 1.64-fold increased myocardial infarction risk compared to lower intake. Fast metabolisers show no comparable risk elevation at equivalent consumption levels. Age amplifies this genetic susceptibility: slow metabolisers under 59 face more than double the MI risk at high intake. These pharmacogenomic findings underscore the importance of personalized dietary recommendations.