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Acute effects of coffee on endothelial function in healthy subjects

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 64, pages 483–489 (2010)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Coffee is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, but its effect on the cardiovascular system has not been fully understood. Coffee contains caffeine and antioxidants, which may influence endothelial function, both of which have not yet been investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the acute effects of coffee on endothelial function measured by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD).

Subjects/Methods:

A total of 20 (10 males and 10 females) healthy non-obese subjects underwent a double-blind, crossover study. Subjects ingested one cup of caffeinated (CC) and one cup of decaffeinated (DC) Italian espresso coffee in random order at 5- to 7-day intervals.

Results:

Following CC ingestion, FMD decreased progressively and significantly (mean±s.e.m.: 0 min, 7.7±0.6; 30 min, 6.3±0.7; 60 min, 6.0±0.8%; ANOVA (analysis of variance), P<0.05), but it did not significantly increase after DC ingestion (0 min, 6.9±0.6; 30 min, 8.1±0.9; 60 min, 8.5±0.9%; P=0.115). Similarly, CC significantly increased both systolic and diastolic blood pressure; this effect was not observed after DC ingestion. Blood glucose concentrations remained unchanged after ingestion of both CC and DC, but insulin (0 min, 15.8±0.9; 60 min, 15.0±0.8 μU/ml; P<0.05) and C-peptide (0 min, 1.25±0.09; 60 min, 1.18±0.09 ng/ml; P<0.01) blood concentrations decreased significantly only after CC ingestion.

Conclusions:

CC acutely induced unfavorable cardiovascular effects, especially on endothelial function. In the fasting state, insulin secretion is also likely reduced after CC ingestion. Future studies will determine whether CC has detrimental clinically relevant effects, especially in unhealthy subjects.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by the Italian Ministry of Education (ex 60% funds, 2007) and by the Associazione Onlus Nutrizione e Salute, Italy. The authors are gratefully indebted to the voluntary subjects who participated in the study and to Giovanna Seddio and Giovanni De Canzio for their invaluable technical support in the laboratory work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Malattie Cardiovascolari e NefroUrologiche,

    S Buscemi, S Verga, M R Tranchina, S Belmonte, A Mattina, A Re & G Cerasola

  2. Facoltà di Medicina, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    S Buscemi, S Verga, M R Tranchina, S Belmonte, A Mattina, A Re & G Cerasola

  3. Section of General Internal Medicine, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA

    J A Batsis

  4. Dipartimento Biomedico di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, University of Palermo,

    M Donatelli

  5. Facoltà di Medicina, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy

    M Donatelli

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Correspondence to S Buscemi.

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Contributors: SB contributed to the experimental design, performed the FMD measurements, interpreted data, drafted the manuscript and performed the statistical analysis. SV contributed to the experimental design, data interpretation and the writing of the manuscript. JAB contributed to the interpretation of the data, critical revision of the manuscript and final approval of the submitted manuscript. MD supervised the hormonal and other laboratory blood measurements and contributed to data interpretation. MRT, SB, AM and GP recruited participants and performed data collection and analysis. GC contributed to the experimental design, data interpretation, writing of the manuscript and trial coordination and had overall responsibility for the study.

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Buscemi, S., Verga, S., Batsis, J. et al. Acute effects of coffee on endothelial function in healthy subjects. Eur J Clin Nutr 64, 483–489 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.9

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