Is decaffeinated coffee good for your health?

Caffeine-free coffee, also called decaf coffee, offers a number of health benefits and possible drawbacks. Here's a comprehensive review of how (un)healthy decaffeinated coffee can be.

Decaffeinated coffee has the advantage that you consume less caffeine. Decaf coffee contains approximately 97% less caffeine than regular coffee. This may be beneficial for people who are sensitive to caffeine, such as those who suffer from insomnia, anxiety, heart palpitations, or high blood pressure.

Decaf coffee retains many of the antioxidants found in regular coffee, such as polyphenols. However, their influence on reducing inflammation and protecting against disease has not been demonstrated. Decaf contains small amounts of essential nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, and niacin (vitamin B3).

Both regular and decaf coffee have been linked to a reduced risk of liver diseases, including liver cancer and cirrhosis. However, this claim has not been scientifically proven. Decaf coffee can promote bowel movements in some people Some claim that decaf coffee, like regular coffee, can lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. There is also no scientific evidence for this.

Some also claim that caffeine has health benefits such as improved alertness and possibly a reduced risk of diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. There is no evidence for this either.

Source: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1112010

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2024-05-01 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2025