Caffeine’s anti-inflammatory effects may support protect blood vessels

Novel leaflet in Rheumatologypublished by Oxford University Press states that consuming more caffeine may improve heart health.

Vascular diseases, damage to blood vessels and their consequences, heart attack and stroke, are among the main causes of death in the general population. In patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, this risk is even greater. This happens both because of the diseases themselves and some of the ways they are treated, especially cortisone derivatives.

So far, doctors’ recommendations for reducing vascular risk have mainly focused on avoiding risk factors. This included stopping inflammation, reducing cortisone, as well as conventional advice such as quitting smoking, lowering cholesterol and controlling high blood pressure.

However, researchers from Sapienza University of Rome in Italy involved in this study believe that patients can improve their vascular health by doing something they actually enjoy. These researchers’ laboratory results suggest that the caffeine found in coffee, tea and cocoa actively helps endothelial progenitor cells, a group of cells that support regenerate the lining of blood vessels and are involved in vessel growth.

It is well known that a diet high in vitamin D (found in oily fish and eggs) and A (found in many fruits) and polyunsaturated fatty acids and low in sodium appears to play a role in reducing the inflammatory burden. Scientists also wondered about caffeine. In addition to its well-known stimulating effect, caffeine also has an anti-inflammatory effect because it binds to receptors found on the surface of immune cells. The effects of caffeine consumption on cardiovascular health have been extensively studied, but the results have been conflicting.

Researchers studied 31 lupus patients without classic cardiovascular risk factors using a seven-day food questionnaire. After a week, the researchers took the patents’ blood to measure the health of the blood vessels. They found that patients consuming caffeine had better vascular health, as measured by endothelial cells, which form the crucial inner layer of blood vessels.

This study is an attempt to provide patients with information about the possible role of diet in controlling the disease.”

Fulvia Ceccarelli from La Sapienza University of Rome

“It will be necessary to confirm the results through a longitudinal study, the aim of which will be to assess the real impact of coffee consumption on the course of the disease.”