Habitual coffee and caffeinated beverages consumption is inversely associated with arterial stiffness and central and...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Nutritional Science
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Cardiovascular risk assessment relies on indicators like aortic stiffness and blood pressure.
• The impact of chronic coffee consumption on cardiovascular health remains incompletely understood.
• Arterial stiffness and blood pressure are key markers for predicting cardiovascular events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between coffee/caffeine intake and arterial stiffness.
• To examine the relationship between coffee/caffeine consumption and central/peripheral blood pressure.
• To evaluate how habitual coffee consumption influences cardiovascular risk indicators.

Main Methods:

• Non-invasive assessment of aortic stiffness using pulse wave velocity (PWV).
• Measurement of wave reflections via the augmentation index (AIx).
• Quantification of peripheral and central blood pressure (systolic and diastolic).
• Dietary intake of coffee and caffeine assessed through questionnaires.

Main Results:

• A significant inverse linear relationship was observed between coffee/caffeine consumption and arterial stiffness.
• Lower levels of PWV, SBP, DBP, cSBP, and cDBP were associated with higher coffee/caffeine intake.
• Light consumers showed notable reductions in PWV (-0.15) and BP parameters (e.g., SBP -3.61).

Conclusions:

• Coffee and caffeine consumption demonstrate an inverse association with arterial stiffness and blood pressure in a large population.
• Findings suggest a potential cardioprotective effect of moderate coffee consumption.
• Further interventional studies are required to establish a causal link.