Atrial fibrillation, a common type of irregular heartbeat is not caused by drinking too much coffee, according to a new study by a Swedish University and published in the journal BMC Medicine.

The study from Karolinska Institute in Sweden showed that neither men nor women faced an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.

In addition to looking at their own data, the team at the Karolinska Institute also looked at six other studies on atrial fibrillation and drinking coffee, and they all confirmed the same results.

Susanna Larsson, who was the lead author of the research, said that this was the largest study ever carried out on the link between coffee and the risk of atrial fibrillation.

Larsson and her team examined approximately 42,000 men and 35,000 women, both groups of which were participating in a long-running study via the cohort of Swedish men and the Swedish mammography cohort.

She added that: “This was important because it shows that people who like coffee can safely continue to consume it, at least in moderation, without the risk of developing this condition.”

The study, which lasted for 12 years found no correlation between coffee and an increased risk of atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation is a certain type of irregular heartbeat, which can cause stroke, heart failure, dementia “all-cause mortality,” according to the study.

The researchers, however, noted that just because this kind of irregular heartbeat was not associated with coffee, other kinds may be. This will likely be for future studies to determine.

Source: BMC Medicine