Washington, Aug 18 (IANS): If you have been fond of taking coffee many times in a day, beware! For a new study has found a link between heavy coffee consumption and increased death risk for people aged below 55.

The US study, published in the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found a statistically significant 21 percent increased mortality among those who drink more than 28 cups of coffee a week or four cups of coffee a day, Xinhua reported.

Based on age groups, the study found that the risk of death from all causes risen by more than 50 percent for men and women who were younger than 55. But no adverse effects were noticed in heavy coffee drinkers aged over 55.

In this study, researchers from the University of South Carolina, US examined the coffee consumption of more than 43,000 individuals aged between 20 and 87 years from 1971 to 2002. During the 17-year median follow-up period, more than 2,500 participants died.

It was found that younger men had a trend towards higher mortality despite lower consumption. But this became significant at about 28 cups per week where there was a 56 percent increase in mortality from all causes.

Younger women who consumed more than 28 cups of coffee per week had double the risk of dying from all causes than those who did not drink coffee, the study said.

"For those drinking high amounts, there should be some caution, as this dose was associated with at least a signal for increased total mortality in this large study, especially in those under 55 years of age," Xuemei Sui, the study's co-author from the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

"My review is that it is safe to drink low doses (1 to 2 cups and probably 2 to 3 cups per day) of coffee, with even some potential benefits of the low dose," Sui said but adding: "Moderation is the key. Avoid excess drinking coffee."