New Delhi, July 22 -- Coffee drinkers may have less reason to worry about their daily habit after a new American Heart Association scientific statement said that up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day - roughly equivalent to five 8-ounce cups of coffee - is generally safe for most adults.

The statement, published in the journal Circulation, examines the relationship between caffeine and cardiovascular health. It concludes that moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee is not generally linked to increased cardiovascular risk for most people and may be associated with a lower risk of several conditions, including coronary artery disease, stroke and heart failure.

The findings are likely to be welcomed by millions of regular coffee drinke...