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A randomized study on coffee and blood pressure
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Quitting coffee for several weeks may slightly lower blood pressure in young adults. This study compared filtered coffee, boiled coffee, and no coffee, finding a small reduction in systolic blood pressure with abstinence.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Nutritional Science
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Coffee consumption is widespread, with various brewing methods potentially influencing its physiological effects.
- Understanding the impact of coffee on blood pressure and heart rate is crucial for public health.
- Normotensive adults represent a key demographic for studying the subtle effects of dietary factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of coffee consumption and abstinence on blood pressure and heart rate.
- To examine the mediating role of brewing methods (filtered vs. boiled coffee) in these effects.
- To assess changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in young adults.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 107 young, normotensive adults.
- Participants were assigned to consume filtered coffee, boiled coffee, or no coffee for nine weeks.
- Blood pressure and heart rate were monitored, with the filtered coffee group serving as the reference.
Main Results:
- Coffee abstinence led to a statistically significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (-6.1 mmHg) compared to the filtered coffee group.
- After adjustments, the systolic blood pressure reduction in the abstinence group was -3.4 mmHg.
- No significant differences in blood pressure or heart rate were observed between the filtered and boiled coffee groups.
Conclusions:
- Abstinence from coffee for several weeks may result in a modest reduction in blood pressure among young, normotensive individuals.
- Brewing method (filtered vs. boiled) did not appear to significantly alter the effects on blood pressure or heart rate in this study.
- Further research could explore long-term effects and mechanisms underlying coffee's impact on cardiovascular parameters.
Abstract:
The effects of coffee on blood pressure and heart-rate and the mediating effect of two common brewing methods, were studied in a randomized trial in 107 young, normotensive adults. After a three-week run-in period, subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups, receiving either (1) 4-6 cups filtered coffee per day, (2) 4-6 cups boiled coffee per day, or (3) no coffee at all for a period of nine weeks. Because all participants consumed filtered coffee before the trial, the group continuing on filtered coffee was considered as the reference group. Both systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased in the abstinence group. Compared to the filter group, only the fall in SBP after 9 weeks was statistically significant, -6.1 mmHg (95% confidence limits -10.8, -1.4). After adjustment for SBP at baseline and body weight change during the study, the observed reduction decreased, to -3.4 mmHg (-7.1, 0.3). The patterns for SBP and DBP were remarkably similar in the groups using either filtered coffee or boiled coffee. After 9 weeks of boiled coffee, mean changes from baseline for SBP and DBP were 0.4 mmHg (-3.7, 4.5) and -0.1 mmHg (-3.4, 3.2), compared to the filter group. The heart rate showed a slight, non-significant decrease in the abstinence group. In conclusion, these findings suggest that abstinence from coffee for a period of several weeks may slightly reduce blood pressure in young normotensive subjects.