Associations between coffee consumption and inflammatory markers in healthy persons: the ATTICA study
Antonis Zampelas1, Demosthenes B Panagiotakos, Christos Pitsavos
1Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece.
Insights
Coffee consumption is linked to higher inflammation markers in both men and women. This association may partially explain coffee
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health and Inflammation Research
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Biomarker Analysis
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is influenced by inflammation, with dietary factors playing a significant role.
- The impact of coffee consumption on cardiovascular health remains a subject of debate.
- Understanding the relationship between diet, inflammation, and CVD is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between coffee consumption and key inflammatory markers.
- To determine if coffee intake correlates with elevated levels of specific inflammatory biomarkers.
- To explore the potential link between coffee, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1514 men and 1528 women.
- Dietary habits, including coffee consumption, were assessed using a validated food-frequency questionnaire.
- Fasting blood samples were analyzed for inflammatory markers, controlling for various covariates.
Main Results:
- Moderate-to-high coffee consumption (>200 mL/d) was associated with significantly higher levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid-A (SAA), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in both men and women.
- Increased white blood cell (WBC) counts were also observed in higher coffee consumers.
- These associations remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, smoking, BMI, and physical activity.
Conclusions:
- A positive relationship exists between moderate-to-high coffee consumption and increased systemic inflammation.
- Elevated inflammatory markers associated with coffee intake may contribute to its observed effects on the cardiovascular system.
- Further research can elucidate the mechanisms underlying coffee's impact on inflammation and cardiovascular outcomes.
Background:
The effect of coffee consumption on the cardiovascular system is conflicting. Inflammation is important to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and several dietary factors are thought to exert significant effects on inflammation and thus on the risk of CVD.
Objective:
We aimed to investigate the associations between coffee consumption and inflammatory markers.
Design:
The cross-sectional survey enrolled 1514 men (x +/- SD age: 46 +/- 13 y; range: 18-87 y) and 1528 women (aged 45 +/- 13 y; range: 18-89 y). Five percent of men and 3% of women were excluded for history of CVD. Fasting blood samples were collected. Dietary habits (including consumption of various types of coffee) were evaluated by using a validated food-frequency questionnaire.
Results:
Compared with coffee nondrinkers, men who consumed >200 mL coffee/d had 50% higher interleukin 6 (IL-6), 30% higher C-reactive protein (CRP), 12% higher serum amyloid-A (SAA), and 28% higher tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) concentrations and 3% higher white blood cell (WBC) counts (all: P < 0.05). Women who consumed >200 mL coffee/d had 54% higher IL-6, 38% higher CRP, 28% higher SAA, and 28% higher TNF-alpha concentrations and 4% higher WBC counts (all: P < 0.05) than did coffee nondrinkers. The findings were significant even after control for the interactions between coffee consumption and age, sex, smoking, body mass index, physical activity status, and other covariates.
Conclusions:
A relation exists between moderate-to-high coffee consumption and increased inflammation process. This relation could explain, in part, the effect of increased coffee intake on the cardiovascular system.
