ViewpointIs habitual caffeine use a preventable cardiovascular risk factor?
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Pressor effects of habitual caffeine consumption
Most studies have involved a single caffeine challenge. The few studies with schedules of exposure intended to resemble typical consumption patterns indicate that modest sustained decreases in blood pressure occur when caffeine beverages are either removed from the diet6 or are replaced by decaffeinated alternatives.7 Six studies in which ambulatory monitoring was used to measure blood pressure have shown similar results. Three showed persistent caffeine-induced pressor effects;8, 9, 10 three
Epidemiology of caffeine and blood pressure
Publications on the epidemiology of caffeine and cardiovascular disease include reports of a strong, positive, independent association,15, 16 and reports of no association.17, 18 The results summarised in figure may help to explain some of these inconsistencies. Of 12 epidemiological caffeine studies in which blood pressure was measured, four reported no association,2 four reported a significant positive association,2 and four reported an inverse association19, 20, 21, 22 (although 3 of the
Probable population effects of habitual caffeine consumption
The harm or benefit of changes in population blood pressure depends on the size of the change, duration of exposure to the factor responsible for the change, prevalence of exposure, and incidence of the pathological conditions to which raised blood pressure contributes (eg, coronary heart disease).24 These factors and the evidence summarised above suggest that the widespread use of caffeine probably contributes to population cardiovascular disease. Although the size of the reduction in
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Cited by (69)
The association between maternal tea consumption and the risk of pregnancy induced hypertension: A retrospective cohort study in Lanzhou, China
2022, Pregnancy HypertensionCitation Excerpt :Regular caffeine intake has been found to increase blood pressure [10]. Caffeine is able to antagonize endogenous adenosine, leading to vasoconstriction and elevated total peripheral vascular resistance [11]. It can also increase oxidative stress and lead to endothelial dysfunction [12], which might cause PE [13].
Adolescent habitual caffeine consumption and hemodynamic reactivity during rest, psychosocial stress, and recovery
2018, Journal of Psychosomatic ResearchCitation Excerpt :Although this result could appear to be inconsistent with the known acute effects of caffeine on BP, the absence of an association in the present context is consistent with what is known about the general diurnal pattern of caffeine consumption by adolescents. Whereas adults typically consume caffeine in separate portions throughout the day, with fewer portions consumed later than earlier in the day, followed by evening and overnight abstinence [45,46], adolescents, who have not yet transitioned to typical adult patterns, tend to consume caffeine later in the day, often in conjunction with computer gaming and other evening recreational activities [51,53]. Given an average caffeine elimination half-life of approximately 5 h and the likelihood that our participants consumed more caffeine during the latter part of the day before the laboratory session than during the morning of that day, systemic caffeine was likely to have been low or negligible at time of testing.
Habitual coffee consumption and risk of hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective observational studies
2011, American Journal of Clinical NutritionThe cumulative effect of coffee and a mental stress task on heart rate, blood pressure, and mental alertness is similar in caffeine-naïve and caffeine-habituated females
2008, Nutrition ResearchCitation Excerpt :In addition, considering that coffee is the most widely consumed drug in the world [19], more research in vulnerable populations such as those with high blood pressure is needed. For example, epidemiologic evidence would suggest that reduction and abstinence of caffeine products could potentially reduce cases of cardiovascular disease by up to 25% [20]; however, more prospective coffee research in cardiovascular risk populations is needed to determine these postulations. Nevertheless, these results provide some physiologic insight into coffee, the most common beverage choice for caffeine, and specifically indicate the powerful effect that drinking a cup of coffee may have on arousal and cardiovascular measures in caffeine-naïve and caffeine-habituated females.
Effects of Acute Administration of Caffeine on Vascular Function
2006, American Journal of CardiologyCitation Excerpt :Caffeine elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressures but did not alter heart rate. Some investigators have hypothesized that caffeine is a vasoconstrictive substance.3–9 In the present study, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were elevated after caffeine ingestion, suggesting vasoconstrictive effects of caffeine.5
Coffee consumption and mortality in a 14-year follow-up of an elderly northern Finnish population
2008, British Journal of Nutrition