Caffeine and cardiovascular health

Abstract

This report evaluates the scientific literature on caffeine with respect to potential cardiovascular outcomes, specifically relative risks of total cardiovascular disease (CVD), coronary heart disease (CHD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), effects on arrhythmia, heart failure, sudden cardiac arrest, stroke, blood pressure, hypertension, and other biomarkers of effect, including heart rate, cerebral blood flow, cardiac output, plasma homocysteine levels, serum cholesterol levels, electrocardiogram (EKG) parameters, heart rate variability, endothelial/platelet function and plasma/urine catecholamine levels. Caffeine intake has been associated with a range of reversible and transient physiological effects broadly and cardiovascular effects specifically. This report attempts to understand where the delineations exist in caffeine intake and corresponding cardiovascular effects among various subpopulations. The available literature suggests that cardiovascular effects experienced by caffeine consumers at levels up to 600 mg/day are in most cases mild, transient, and reversible, with no lasting adverse effect. The point at which caffeine intake may cause harm to the cardiovascular system is not readily identifiable in part because data on the effects of daily intakes greater than 600 mg is limited. However, the evidence considered within this review suggests that typical moderate caffeine intake is not associated with increased risks of total cardiovascular disease; arrhythmia; heart failure; blood pressure changes among regular coffee drinkers; or hypertension in baseline populations.

Caffeine improves sperm quality, modulates steroidogenic enzyme activities, restore testosterone levels and prevent oxidative damage in testicular and epididymal tissues of scopolamine-induced rat model of amnesia

“…[1] It is consumed mainly due to its stimulating and psychoactive effects as it affects brain function and behaviour. Several experimental studies have established that caffeine exhibit therapeutic effects against cardiovascular diseases, [2] inflammation, [3] including memory impairment and cognitive disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease. [4,5] Furthermore, research has also shown the link between consumption of caffeine and fertility.…”

Interpreting coronary artery disease risk through gene-environment interactions in gene regulation

“…Our observation that that genetic loci associated with risk of coronary artery disease are highly enriched in the binding sites of transcription factors that regulate response to caffeine, suggests that caffeine modulates coronary artery disease risk. This is an intriguing finding given the extensive number of studies that have explored the link between caffeine, coffee consumption, and heart disease [12,51].…”

“…To determine the impact of genetic variation on endothelial cell response to environmental perturbations, we treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from 17 unrelated, healthy donors with 4 compounds (dexamethasone, retinoic acid, caffeine, and selenium) and 2 vehicle controls. These treatments have been associated with cardiovascular disease and/or endothelial dysfunction [17,40,50,52] and have been shown in a previous study [35] to produce strong transcriptional responses in HUVECs. We then assessed changes in gene expression with RNA-seq in all samples and chromatin accessibility with ATACseq in four samples at six hours following treatment ( Figure 1A).…”

Are energy drinks suitable for children?

“…Caffeine clearance is believed to be the same in children and adolescents as in adults, once bodyweight is taken into consideration (Turnbull et al . ). However, children and adolescents may be more vulnerable than adults to the effects of the dose of caffeine found in energy drinks due to their lower bodyweight and because they are less likely to be habituated to its effects.…”

“…Death associated with very high caffeine intake is extremely rare and, when it has occurred, appeared to be related to the ingestion of caffeine powder or tablets and/or underlying cardiovascular disease (Temple et al 2017). Caffeine clearance is believed to be the same in children and adolescents as in adults, once bodyweight is taken into consideration (Turnbull et al 2017). However, children and adolescents may be more vulnerable than adults to the effects of the dose of caffeine found in energy drinks due to their lower bodyweight and because they are less likely to be habituated to its effects.…”