Study suggests that increasing caffeine intake can lead to better blood vessel health

In a study led by Sapienza University in Rome, caffeine intake was positively correlated with the proportion of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in lupus patients.

Vascular disease, damage to blood vessels, and the resulting heart attacks and strokes are among the leading causes of death in the general population.

These risks are even higher in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

This is due both to the disease itself and to some of its treatments, especially cortisone derivatives.

Until now, doctors’ recommendations for reducing these vascular risks have primarily been about avoiding risk factors.

This includes traditional recommendations such as smoking cessation, reducing cholesterol, and managing high blood pressure, as well as stopping inflammation and reducing the dose of cortisone medications.

But researchers at Rome’s Sapienza University think that doing something that’s actually fun may help patients improve their vascular health.

Research suggests that the caffeine found in coffee, tea, and cocoa helps regenerate the lining of blood vessels and actively supports endothelial progenitor cells, a group of cells involved in blood vessel growth.

Diets rich in vitamin D (found in fatty fish and eggs) and vitamin A (found in many fruits), polyunsaturated fatty acids and low in sodium appear to play a role in reducing inflammatory burden well known.

“We were also wondering about caffeine,” said Dr. Fulvia Ceccarelli and colleagues.

“In addition to its well-known stimulant effects on the body, caffeine also exerts anti-inflammatory effects because it binds to receptors expressed on the surface of immune cells.”

“The effects of caffeine intake on cardiovascular health have been widely investigated, but results are contradictory.”

The study authors surveyed 31 lupus patients without traditional cardiovascular risk factors using a 7-day dietary questionnaire.

After a week, the researchers drew blood from patent patients to measure blood vessel health.

They found that patients who consumed caffeine had better blood vessel health, as measured through the endothelial cells that form the critical lining of blood vessels.

“This study is an attempt to provide patients with information about the possible role of diet in controlling the disease,” said Dr. Ceccarelli.

“The results will need to be confirmed through longitudinal studies aimed at assessing the actual impact of coffee consumption on the course of the disease.”

of result Published in a magazine Rheumatology.

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Valeria Orefice others. Caffeine improves endothelial dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus by promoting survival of endothelial progenitor cells. Rheumatologypublished online October 9, 2024. doi: 10.1093/rheumatism/keae453