Researchers from Sapienza University of Rome have found that increasing caffeine consumption, including caffeine found in coffee, may increase overall vascular health. The study authors observed that the benefits were even higher for people with inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. However, the researchers believe otherwise healthy individuals may also benefit from the circulatory system-supporting components of increased caffeine consumption.
The potential health benefits if caffeine and coffee specifically have been widely debated. Some studies have indicated people with preexisting heart conditions might suffer negative health consequences from too much caffeine, including irregular heartbeats and atrial fibrillation. Others showed that too much caffeine can increase the number of atrial contractions, raising the possibility of adverse cardiac events.
Conversely, separate studies have found coffee consumption may help stave off diabetes or even positively affect blood sugar levels for people already suffering from the disease. For example, The Debrief previously reported on the potential health benefits of caffeine, particularly when combined with a creatine nitrate supplement. Drinking a cup or two a day may also help with mental alertness and even depression due to its role in stimulating dopamine.
Now, the Sapienza University research team has shown that increasing caffeine consumption could support vascular health, including reducing the chances of heart attacks and strokes. Specifically, the benefits seem to result from caffeine’s role in supporting endothelial progenitor cells. According to the press release announcing the research, endothelial progenitor cells are a type of immune system support mechanism “that helps regenerate the lining of blood vessels and are involved in vascular growth.”
In America, heart disease and related complications like myocardial infarction and stroke are the leading cause of death. In many cases, these conditions are exacerbated by poor capsular health. However, caffeine, which is present in coffee, tea, and cocoa, seems to help the body manage inflammation. According to the study authors, caffeine is anti-inflammatory “because it binds with the receptors expressed on the surface of immune cell.”
To see if these benefits can be conveyed to people with preexisting inflammatory diseases, the study authors enlisted 31 volunteers with lupus and asked them to fill out a week-long food questionnaire. Notably, none of the volunteers had preexisting heart or vascular conditions. The study volunteers also had no established risk factors for heart disease like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or obesity. However, all suffered the side effects of their autoimmune disease, including increased inflammation.
After a week of typical consumption, the study authors took the volunteers’ blood pressure. Although non-invasive, blood pressure readings are considered reliable for determining vascular health.
As expected, the blood pressure readings showed that the volunteers who consumed caffeine on a regular basis had lower blood pressure readings and, therefore, better overall vascular health. According to the release, this data was supported by blood tests, which showed the caffeine-consuming volunteers had healthier blood vessels “as measured through endothelial cells,” which form an important layer inside blood vessels.
In the study’s conclusion, the authors point out that this is just one measure of vascular health, and more studies are needed to confirm their findings. Still, the authors believe that their evidence is compelling and can offer people who suffer from autoimmune inflammatory diseases like lupus some insight into how what they eat and drink can directly affect their overall health and wellbeing.
“The present study is an attempt to provide patients with information on the possible role of diet in controlling the disease,” explained Fulvia Ceccarelli, the paper’s lead author. “It will be necessary to confirm the results through a longitudinal study, aimed at assessing the real impact of coffee consumption on the disease course.”
The study “Caffeine improves systemic lupus erythematosus endothelial dysfunction by promoting endothelial progenitor cells survival” was published in Rheumatology.
Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.