Nonlinear effects of caffeine on the viability, synthesis and gene expression of chondrocytes from the offspring of rats treated during pregnancy

Caffeine, a Risk Factor for Osteoarthritis and Longitudinal Bone Growth Inhibition

“…It is known that women have a faster caffeine metabolism [30,32], which in turn could explain this difference between the sexes. Consistent with this, a wide range of studies have suggested the potential harmful effects of caffeine on the musculoskeletal system [23][24][25][26]34,[42][43][44]. Specifically, there is a significant bulk of evidence pointing to the role of caffeine in the pathophysiology of both articular and growth plate cartilage [23][24][25][26]34,[42][43][44].…”

“…It is well-known that in adults, chronic and elevated caffeine intake above 500-600 mg/day (equivalent to four or seven cups of coffee) can cause multiple symptoms, including nervousness, irritability, insomnia, arrhythmias, increased diuresis, tachypnoea, gastrointestinal disturbances, hypercalciuria, female infertility, and an increased risk of osteoporosis and hip fracture [30,31]. In addition to these effects, multiple in vitro and in vivo experiments suggest that caffeine overconsumption could be harmful to the musculoskeletal system, including the hyaline cartilage [23][24][25][26]34,[42][43][44] (Figure 3).…”

“…Specifically, there is a significant bulk of evidence pointing to the role of caffeine in the pathophysiology of both articular and growth plate cartilage [23][24][25][26]34,[42][43][44]. Accordingly, caffeine consumption has been associated with severe alterations in the articular cartilage, which have been linked to OA development [23][24][25][26]34,42]. Caffeine has also been related to abnormal bone growth due to alterations in the growth plate cartilage [23][24][25][26]34,42].…”

“…Accordingly, caffeine consumption has been associated with severe alterations in the articular cartilage, which have been linked to OA development [23][24][25][26]34,42]. Caffeine has also been related to abnormal bone growth due to alterations in the growth plate cartilage [23][24][25][26]34,42].…”

“…The potential effects of caffeine on the articular cartilage were clearly demonstrated in rat animal models [23][24][25][26]34,42]. In these experiments, prenatal caffeine exposure [23][24][25][26]34,42] (PCE) below the clinical dose of intoxication and in the range of some pregnant women [23][24][25][26]34,[42][43][44] significantly affected fetal articular cartilage integrity [23][24][25][26]34,42]. Specifically, histological studies revealed that rat offspring with PCE possess irregular surface cartilage with uneven and altered chondrocytes in the tangential zone [26].…”