What is the link between caffeine and heart attacks?

The primary caffeine metabolizer is cytochrome P450 1A2, encoded by the CYP1A2 gene. Variations in the CYP1A2 gene determine whether an individual is a fast or slow caffeine metabolizer. Slow metabolizers take longer to clear caffeine from the body and have an increased risk of heart problems and high blood pressure.

Heart disease is one of the major causes of death for both men and women worldwide. A myocardial infarction, or a heart attack, occurs when the blood flow to a region of the heart is inhibited, resulting in damage to the heart tissue.

Heart attacks are often preventable and the risk can be reduced by making lifestyle choices that focus on diet and exercise. One very simple diet change—the reduction or elimination of caffeine—can significantly reduce the risk of heart attacks in individuals that have a slow caffeine metabolism.