Summary
The effect of an acute oral caffeine load (250 mg capsule) and matching placebo on blood pressure and pulse rate were studied after 48 h caffeine abstention in 8 elderly, normotensive regular caffeine users. The caffeine loading phase was repeated after only 12 h abstention.
Following 48 h abstention, supine systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher for the 120 min study period after the acute caffeine load than placebo (12.1 mm Hg, 95% C.I. 4.3–19.9 mm Hg;P=0.008 and 7.4 mm Hg, 3.6–11.2 mm Hg;P<0.001 respectively). Similar differences were seen in standing blood pressure, though pulse rate was unchanged throughout. The pressor response to the acute caffeine load was significantly greater after a 48 h than a 12 hour caffeine abstention period, for supine and standing systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The changes in plasma caffeine levels after acute loading were similar after the 2 different abstention periods.
Caffeine ingestion after 48 h abstention has an acute pressor effect in normotensive elderly subjects which is abolished if the abstention period is reduced to 12 h. Acute caffeine ingestion is unlikely to have a significant pressor effect in elderly normotensive subjects who are regular caffeine users as the normal period of caffeine abstention (i.e. overnight) is too short to abolish tolerance.
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Haigh, R.A., Harper, G.D., Fotherby, M. et al. Duration of caffeine abstention influences the acute blood pressure responses to caffeine in elderly normotensives. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 44, 549–553 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02440857
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02440857