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Coffee consumption and circulating B-vitamins in healthy middle-aged men and women

Arve Ulvik1, Stein Emil Vollset, Geir Hoff

  • 1LOCUS for Homocysteine and Related Vitamins, Department of Internal Medicine, Pharmacology Section, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. arve.ulvik@farm.uib.no

Clinical Chemistry
|July 9, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Coffee consumption is linked to lower B-vitamin levels and higher homocysteine. This study suggests coffee intake may increase B-vitamin loss through urine, potentially impacting heart health.

Area of Science:

  • Nutritional Science
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Coffee consumption is linked to coronary heart disease risk factors like elevated cholesterol, blood pressure, and total homocysteine (tHcy).
  • Plasma tHcy levels are influenced by B-vitamin status.
  • Limited research exists on the association between coffee intake and B-vitamin status.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between coffee consumption and plasma concentrations of B-vitamins and tHcy.
  • To explore how coffee intake affects different levels of B-vitamin distribution.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study of 10,601 healthy Norwegian men and women.
  • Measurement of plasma B-vitamins and tHcy.
  • Collection of lifestyle data including coffee consumption, smoking, and alcohol use via interviews.

Main Results:

  • Coffee consumption showed a dose-dependent association with reduced plasma concentrations of folate, pyridoxal phosphate, and riboflavin.
  • Individuals consuming four or more cups of coffee daily had significantly lower B-vitamin levels and higher mean tHcy.
  • The observed reduction in folate partially explained the increase in tHcy, independent of other lifestyle factors.

Conclusions:

  • Coffee consumption is associated with decreased circulating B-vitamin concentrations.
  • Coffee intake appears to affect higher B-vitamin concentrations more significantly than lower ones.
  • A potential mechanism involves increased urinary excretion of surplus B-vitamins due to coffee consumption.
Abstract

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